During 1980, 2,060 shop theft charges against adult defendants were disposed of by lower criminal courts in South Australia and 5,523 in NSW. Nearly 20 percent of the NSW cases and over 40 percent of the South Australian cases led to outcomes other than conviction. In South Australia, the influence of presiding magistrates on both outcome and sentence significantly outweighed the contribution of the other factors considered. The explanatory power of this variable remained strongest, even when controlling for other factors. Presiding magistrates were not identified in the NSW data. Controlling for other factors in both jurisdictions, defendants over age 65 were more likely to avoid conviction, but age advantage was limited to this first disposition stage. Defendants who were legally represented fared better at both disposition stages in both places. Convicted defendants who were not the recipients of bonds with supervision stood a greater chance of imprisonment. Unemployed, convicted defendants were more likely to receive prison sentences. Gender failed to emerge as an important factor, but in NSW convicted females were much less likely than males to receive a prison sentence. The most appropriate course of action appears to be the compilation of detailed statistical data and the development of greater opportunities for discussion and consultation among judicial officers.