Data for most local courts were provided by clerks of the court who completed and returned coding forms for each person appearing before local courts on criminal charges. Data for higher courts were obtained from the Case Tracking System, an administrative computer system used by District Courts Registry staff. The number of criminal cases disposed of by NSW local courts increased by 4.3 percent from 112,229 cases in 1997 to 117,053 cases in 1998. Most offense categories showed an increase between 1997 and 1998 in the number of charges finalized in local courts, although offenses against the person showed a slight decrease. The number of persons found guilty increased between 1997 and 1998, while the percentage of persons found guilty in local courts remained relatively stable. The proportion of persons for whom bail was refused by local courts increased slightly from 1997 to 1998, with 4.6 percent of all persons charged in 1998 being refused bail compared to 4.4 percent in 1997. Imprisonment was imposed on 7 percent of those found guilty in local courts in 1998, compared to 6.4 percent in 1997 and 6.3 percent in 1996. Offenses with the highest imprisonment rates in 1998 were break and enter, dealing and trafficking in opiates, and vehicle theft. The length of imprisonment averaged 4.8 months. Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders were more likely than NSW persons overall to be sentenced to imprisonment after conviction for offenses in almost all offense categories. Of all persons found guilty in local courts, 83 percent were male and 17 percent were female, and the average age of persons found guilty in 1998 was 30.7 years. Of 15,672 appearances in children's courts in 1997-1998, 11,991 (76.5 percent) resulted in at least one proven offense. About 42 percent of proven offenses were in the theft category, and the next largest categories of proven offenses were offenses against the person and offenses against good order. Males accounted for 82.5 percent of all cases decided by children's courts. In 1998, 3,747 cases were committed for trial or sentencing in higher courts, a decrease of 6.9 percent from the total number of cases registered in 1997. Of persons whose cases were finalized in higher courts, 70.7 percent were found guilty in 1997 and 68.9 percent were found guilty in 1998. The length of imprisonment imposed by higher courts averaged 28 months. Detailed statistics are tabulated on charges in court appearances and penalties. Supplemental information on penalties and district courts is appended. 38 tables