Western Australia’s criminal courts are facing growing pressure, with new figures painting a clear picture of increasing demand, shifting offence trends and longer-term changes in sentencing outcomes.
The latest data shows the number of individual defendants before WA criminal courts rose by 11 per cent in 2024–25, reaching 81,454. Behind that figure is a system managing more people, more cases and more complexity than in previous years.
One of the sharpest increases was in weapons and explosive offences, which jumped by 36.9 per cent compared to the previous year. At the same time, family and domestic violence (FDV) continues to trend upwards, with a record 12,464 defendants charged in 2024–25, an increase of more than one-third. Notably, 18.8 per cent of those defendants were female, the highest proportion recorded.
The data also provides insight into who is coming before the courts. The median age of defendants sits at 35 years, with males accounting for 72.4 per cent. While these demographics remain relatively stable, the volume of cases is clearly increasing.
Despite the rising workload, courts processed matters in an average of 15.2 weeks from charge to outcome in 2024–25. This reflects a system continuing to operate under sustained demand while working to maintain timeliness.
In terms of outcomes, 87.2 per cent of defendants charged with sexual offences were found or pleaded guilty, marking the highest proportion in the past decade. Meanwhile, 5.9 per cent of guilty defendants received a custodial sentence, the highest rate seen in three years.
There are also longer-term shifts emerging in the youth justice space. The rate of young people appearing before the Children’s Court has fallen by 21.6 per cent since 2015–16. Over the same period, the proportion of guilty youth receiving custodial sentences has more than halved. A key driver of this change is the significant drop in custodial sentencing for burglary offences, decreasing from 16.8 per cent to 3.8 per cent.
These figures collectively highlight a justice system managing increasing demand alongside evolving crime patterns and sentencing trends. They also reinforce the critical role of frontline policing in responding to complex and growing community safety challenges across Western Australia.
Download the Infographic:To explore the full breakdown of these statistics, download our infographic summarising the key trends shaping WA’s criminal courts in 2024–25.
