In 2023–24, the Magistrates’ Court sentenced 85,462 cases, down 8.9% from 93,778 cases in 2022–23. From July 2004 to June 2024, the Magistrates’ Court sentenced an average of 83,587 cases each year.
The highest number of cases sentenced in a year in the Magistrates' Court was 99,723 in 2015–16. The lower number of cases in some recent years was due to the COVID–19 pandemic causing delays in court proceedings from March 2020.
Note: Cases that received a criminal justice diversion plan are included in the graph. The criminal justice diversion plan is not a sentence, but it is an important disposition available in the Magistrates' Court.
Number of cases sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Hover over the line in the graph to display the number of cases for each year.
| Year | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| 2023–24 | 85,462 |
| 2022–23 | 93,778 |
| 2021–22 | 80,340 |
| 2020–21 | 64,749 |
| 2019–20 | 73,943 |
| 2018–19 | 91,649 |
| 2017–18 | 97,133 |
| 2016–17 | 96,923 |
| 2015–16 | 99,723 |
| 2014–15 | 94,477 |
| 2013–14 | 90,811 |
| 2012–13 | 84,423 |
| 2011–12 | 80,694 |
| 2010–11 | 77,126 |
| 2009–10 | 82,399 |
| 2008–09 | 82,452 |
| 2007–08 | 80,619 |
| 2006–07 | 71,656 |
| 2005–06 | 71,083 |
| 2004–05 | 72,945 |
Source: Court Services Victoria, unpublished data. Note that the data may be subject to revision to reflect amendments to records in Court Services Victoria’s databases.
