Annual Report of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago 2012-2013 Annual Report 2012-2013 | Page 87
CRIMINAL CASELOAD STATISTICS
TABLE 15
NEW CRIMINAL INDICTMENTS FILED BY SUBTYPE
CAPITAL/NON - CAPITAL 2007-2008 to 2012-2013
Subtype
Capital (Murder)
Year
Total
Non-Capital
2012-2013
339
65
274
2011-2012
116
20
96
2010-2011
279
47
232
2009-2010
132
29
103
2008-2009
116
35
81
2007-2008
161
30
131
The statistica l data presented in Table 15 indicate that there were three hundred and
thirty-nine (339) Criminal indictments filed in the High Court in the 2012-2013 law
term. This reflects an increase of 192% in matters filed when compared to the one
hundred and sixteen (116) matters filed for the 2011-2012 Law Term.
The increase in Criminal indictments was primarily as a result of an 185% or one
hundred and seventy-eight (178) Non-Capital filings in the 2012-2013 law term.
Of the matters filed 19.2% or sixty-five (65) represents indictments for capital
offences and 80.8% or two hundred and seventy-four (274) were indictments for
non-capital offences.
TABLE 16
ANNUAL DISPOSAL TO FILING RATIO FOR
CRIMINAL CASES 2007- 2008 TO 2012-2013
Year
Annual Average (6yrs)
Filings
191
Disposals
99
Disposal to
Filing Ratios
0.52
2012-2013
339
91
0.27
2011-2012
116
64
0.55
2010-2011
279
97
0.35
2009-2010
132
70
0.53
2008-2009
116
101
0.87
2007-2008
161
168
1.04
Table 16 shows that a total of ninety-one (91) Criminal matters were disposed in the
2012-2013 law term, an increase of 28.7% or twenty-seven (27) from the previous Law
Term.
The average annual clearance rate or disposition to filing ratio for the last six (6) years
is 0.52 a decrease of 0.18% from the previous comparative period (reference
2011-2012 Annual Report). There was also a decline in 2012-2013 clearance ratio
when compared with that of its predecessor (2011-2012).
The disposition to filing ratio for the 2012-2013 Law Term is the lowest clearance ratio
thus far.
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