some offenders who receive a custodial sentence have already served their entire sentence while on remand, in advance of their sentence date. The overall custody rate for all sentences imposed by Victorian courts remained low and stable between 2004–05 and 2014–15. The custody rate across all courts increased 0.3 of a percentage with 7.1% of offenders receiving a custodial sentence in 2004–05 and 7.4% of offenders receiving a custodial sentence in 2014–15. This is a consequence of custodial sentences comprising only a small percentage of sentences imposed in the Magistrates’ Court, where the majority of offenders are sentenced. Different trends can be seen by taking a closer look at the custody rates at each court level. Figure 10 details the custody rates for the Magistrates’ Court and the higher courts by financial year. The custody rate for offenders sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court has remained relatively stable, increasing from 5.9% of offenders in 2004–05 to 6.3% of offenders in 2014–15 (an increase of 8%). Figure 10: Custody by court level, 2004–05 to 2014–15 Financial year Magistrates' court Higher courts 2004–05 5.9 50.8 2005–06 6.1 52.5 2006–07 5.9 53.8 2007–08 5.0 54.8 2008–09 5.2 57.4 2009–10 5.9 64.1 2010–11 5.4 62.6 2011–12 5.5 62.3 2012–13 6.3 68.5 2013–14 6.1 66.5 2014–15 6.3 64.3 Source: Services Victoria, unpublished data. In contrast, the custody rate in the higher courts increased by a statistically significant 27% between 2004–05 and 2014–15. The custody rate peaked in the higher courts in 2012–13, when over 68% of offenders sentenced in the higher courts received a custodial sentence. Nonetheless, the slight reduction in the custody rate since 2012–13 still sees a higher proportion of offenders receiving a custodial sentence in 2014–15 than in any of the years prior to the peak.
some offenders who receive a custodial sentence have already served their entire sentence while on remand, in advance of their sentence date. The overall custody rate for all sentences imposed by Victorian courts remained low and stable between 2004–05 and 2014–15. The custody rate across all courts increased 0.3 of a percentage with 7.1% of offenders receiving a custodial sentence in 2004–05 and 7.4% of offenders receiving a custodial sentence in 2014–15. This is a consequence of custodial sentences comprising only a small percentage of sentences imposed in the Magistrates’ Court, where the majority of offenders are sentenced. Different trends can be seen by taking a closer look at the custody rates at each court level. Figure 10 details the custody rates for the Magistrates’ Court and the higher courts by financial year. The custody rate for offenders sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court has remained relatively stable, increasing from 5.9% of offenders in 2004–05 to 6.3% of offenders in 2014–15 (an increase of 8%). Figure 10: Custody by court level, 2004–05 to 2014–15 Financial year Magistrates' court Higher courts 2004–05 5.9 50.8 2005–06 6.1 52.5 2006–07 5.9 53.8 2007–08 5.0 54.8 2008–09 5.2 57.4 2009–10 5.9 64.1 2010–11 5.4 62.6 2011–12 5.5 62.3 2012–13 6.3 68.5 2013–14 6.1 66.5 2014–15 6.3 64.3 Source: Services Victoria, unpublished data. In contrast, the custody rate in the higher courts increased by a statistically significant 27% between 2004–05 and 2014–15. The custody rate peaked in the higher courts in 2012–13, when over 68% of offenders sentenced in the higher courts received a custodial sentence. Nonetheless, the slight reduction in the custody rate since 2012–13 still sees a higher proportion of offenders receiving a custodial sentence in 2014–15 than in any of the years prior to the peak.
Victorias%20Prison%20Population%202005%20to%202016.docx