Court workload still dropping

The number of people appearing in the dock at Masterton District Court is dropping, Ministry of Justice figures show.

Last year, 912 people appeared at Masterton District Court, down from 1076 in 2011 and 1243 in 2010.

The conviction and sentencing statistics published on the Statistics New Zealand website, show 2266 charges were heard, resulting in 1761 convictions, 432 not proved, and 73 diversions or discharge without conviction.

Most of the charges were traffic and vehicle offences, with 496 heard last year, up from 450 in 2011, but down from 599 in 2010 and 581 in 2009.

Exceeding the blood alcohol limit brought 252 people before the courts last year, while 202 were charged with driving licence offences.

Eight people were charged last year for vehicle registration and roadworthiness offences.

The second biggest category was for offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations, such as breaching bail conditions, with 438 charges heard.

Masterton District Court has had administration staff cut back as part of nationwide changes in court staffing. Two jobs, including the court registrar's position, have been lost.

Nationwide, the number of people charged and appearing in court has reduced by 22 per cent since 2009. In 2012, 98,783 people appeared in court, down 7 per cent from 2011.

Most charges brought before the court were low-level offences including traffic and vehicle regulatory offences, and offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations.

Justice Minister Judith Collins said the figures confirmed crime was falling and New Zealand was becoming a safer place to live.

The number of people charged with a violent offence has dropped 17 per cent over the past four years, after steadily increasing between 2004 and 2009.

"Reversing of the violent offence trend is particularly pleasing because violent offences are responsible for the most harm in our communities," Ms Collins said.

Up to 74 per cent of those who appeared in court were convicted, and 10 per cent of them sent to prison.

For every 10,000 people in New Zealand, 22 were imprisoned last year compared with 25 in 2011.

The most common sentence imposed was a fine or reparation (39 per cent), while 17 per cent received a community sentence and 28 per cent community work. The rest were either imprisoned, or convicted and discharged, or disqualified from driving.

Child and Youth Prosecution statistics showed the rate of children and young people appearing in court was the lowest in 20 years and down 40 per cent since 2007 to 3018.

Children and young people now make up less than 3 per cent of the total number of people in court in New Zealand.

As well as fewer youth convictions, the number of children and young people convicted in an adult court for serious offences has dropped from 500 to 199 in the past five years.

"Fewer children and young people coming before our courts is an encouraging sign," Ms Collins said.

"We know that a key to reducing crime is to stop young people entering the court and justice system in the first place." APNZ

Masterton Court statistics 2012

912 people appeared

2266 charges heard

1761 convictions

432 cases not proved