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NSW reports dissatisfaction in criminal justice system
New data has revealed NSW residents are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the justice system and have “mistaken beliefs” about the rate of crimes in the state.
Naomi Neilson
Data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) found that while residents are confident the criminal justice system (CJS) respects the rights of the accused, the majority are dissatisfied with sentences and case timings.
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Two out of three NSW residents reported that they believe sentences handed down in courts are “too lenient” and only 44 per cent expressed confidence that the CJS meets the needs of victims. Moreover, only one in three residents responded with confidence that the CJS dealt with any of its current cases promptly.
The findings were reported from a representative survey of 2,000 residents in May and June 2019. Similar surveys were conducted in 2007, 2012 and 2014.
The 2019 data found levels of confidence in the CJS have generally not improved over the last decade and that punitive views remain common. The exception is that the CJS meets the needs of victims, which is significantly higher than the 2007 results.
Commenting on the findings, BOCSAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said while there is general confidence in the system, there is room for improvement: “While it is heartening to see that significantly more people now believe the justice system meets the needs of victims, more than half still indicated that this is a problem.”
The survey found many NSW residents held “mistaken beliefs” about the state’s crime and the CJS, with 62 per cent of respondents reporting that they believe violent crime is on the rise – it is steady – and 44 per cent said property crime is rising – it is falling.
The survey also found respondents were increasingly and “frequently underestimating the proportion of offenders who are convicted and imprisoned”.
Confidence in the CJS was found to be higher in men, young people, the more highly educated, people on higher incomes and those residing in metropolitan areas. It was lower with people exposed to crime and those who mistakenly believed crime is rising.
