In 2024–25, the Magistrates’ Court sentenced 76,461 cases, down 10.5% from 85,462 cases in 2023–24. From July 2004 to June 2025, the Magistrates’ Court sentenced an average of about 83,000 cases each year.
Between 2004–05 and 2024–25, the highest number of cases sentenced in the Magistrates' Court was 99,723 in 2015–16. The lowest number of cases was 64,749 in 2020–21, due to the COVID–19 pandemic.
Notes: A case consists of one or more charges sentenced at the same hearing. A charge is a single count of an offence. Cases that resulted in a criminal justice diversion plan are included in the graph. Diversion is not a sentence, but it is an important outcome available in the Magistrates' Court.
Number of cases sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court
Hover over the line in the graph to display the number of cases for each year.
| Year | Number of cases |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 76,461 |
| 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 | 96,293 |
| 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Source: Court Services Victoria, unpublished data.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: The data may be subject to revision to reflect amendments to records in Court Services Victoria’s databases.
