Family Court Statistics - Ministry of Justice · STATISTICAL BULLETIN: FAMILY COURT Introduction...
Transcript of Family Court Statistics - Ministry of Justice · STATISTICAL BULLETIN: FAMILY COURT Introduction...
Family Court StatisticsAn overview of Family Court Statistics in New Zealand 2004 to 2008
STATISTICAL BULLETIN May 2010
Overall trends 1999 to 2008
• Thenumberofnewapplications2isstable.Thisindicatesthatcourtworkloadisrelativelyconstantoverthatperiod.
• Theannualnumberofnewcaseshasgenerallydecreased.ThispointstofallingnumbersofnewfamilygroupsusingtheFamilyCourt.Theexceptionsarethoseseekingcounsellingorrelationshipdissolution.
Parenting of children
• Between2005and2008,thedistributionofpartiesgivenday-to-daycarehasmoreorlessremainedthesame.Mostparentingordersgiveday-to-daycaretoeitherthemotherorthefather.
• NewPlymouthandRotoruacourtclustershadthehighestrateofnewparentingofchildrencasesin2008.
Family violence
• Thenumberofprotectionorderapplications,andtheproportionofapplicationsgranted,havebeenstablebetween2006and2008.
• In2008,theSouthIslandhasalowerrateofnewfamilyviolencecasesthantheNorthIsland.
Care and protection of children
• Theannualnumberofnewchildrenneedingcareandprotectionrosefromaboutnearly1900in2004toover2250in2006.Thenumberdeclinedtoabout1550in2008.
• Between2004and2008,85percentofapplicationstocareandprotectachildcitedthelikelihoodofharmorimpairmentofwell-beingasoneofthegroundsfortheaction.
• Themaingroupofchildrentakenintocarearebetween0-4yearsold.Incontrast,thelargestgroupofchildrenattheirfinalreviewareaged15yearsandolder.
Dissolution of relationships
• Thenumberofjointdissolutionofmarriageandcivilunionapplicationsfellsteadilybetween2004and2008.
• In2008,boththeNorthandSouthIslandsappeartohavesimilarratesofdissolutioncases.ThehighestratewasintheNelson-Marlborougharea.
Thisbulletinanalyses,between2004and2008,thefourmainareasthatcomeunderthejurisdictionoftheFamilyCourt.1Italsolooksatoveralltrendsofusefrom1999to2008.
Family Court statistics – main findings
1 Formoreinformation,pleasegotowww.justice.govt.nz/courts/family-court.
2Throughoutthispublication,onlysubstantiveapplicationsareconsidered.
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www.justice.govt.nzPOBox180,Wellington,NewZealandCORP414•ISBN978-0-478-29087-X
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IntroductionTheFamilyCourtisaspecialistcourtthatdealsmainlywithdisputesandotherlegalmatterswithinfamilysettings.ThisbulletinprovidesstatisticsonfourcasetypeswithwhichtheFamilyCourtdeals.Theseare:
• Parentingofchildrenwheretheparentsand/orguardiansareunabletoagree
• Familyviolence
• Protectionofchildrenandchildoffenders
• Dissolutionofrelationships.
OthermattersalsoheardintheFamilyCourt,butnotcoveredinthisbulletin,includementalhealth,andpropertyrelationshipcases.
Overalltrends1999to2008Thissection3reportsontheoveralltrendsofcasesandapplicationsintheNewZealandFamilyCourtsystembetween1999and2008.Figure1showsthepercentageincreaseordecreaseinsubstantiveapplicationssince1999,with1999setat100percent.Figure2showssimilarpercentagesfornewcasesfrom1999.
• Theoveralltrendfrom1999isthatthenumberofnewapplicationsisalmoststatic.
• Thenumberofnewapplicationsisanindicatoroftheworkloadofthecourt.
• Protectionofchildrenandfamilyviolenceapplicationshavegenerallydeclined.Parentingofchildrenapplicationsappearstatic.
• Protectionorderapplicationshavefallenfrom6520in1999to4422in2008.
Figure 1: Trends in new applications, 1999 to 20084
3 Datacollectionfrom22FamilyCourtsbeganinJuly1998.Allcourtswereincludedintothecollectionin2004.
4 BasedondatafromthoseCourtsthatwereusingtheFamilyCourtDataBase(FCDB)inJuly1998.
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• Theoveralltrendfrom1999isthatthenumberofnewcasesisgraduallyfalling.
• Eachnewcasetypicallyrepresentsanewfamilygroupforthattypeofcase.ItthereforeappearsthatfewerfamilygroupsareusingtheFamilyCourt.
• Theonlycasetypestoregisteranincreasesince1999arerelationshipdissolutionandseekingcounselling.
Figure 2: Trends in new cases, 1999 to 20085 6
5 BasedondatafromthoseCourtsthatwereusingtheFCDBinJuly1998.
6 DataforProtectionofChildrenisfrom2000,asdatafor1999isincomplete.
ParentingofchildrenThissectionreportsoncasesandapplicationsrelatedtotheparentingofchildrenwheretheirparentsand/orguardiansareunabletoagree.UndertheCareofChildrenAct2004(whichcameintoforceon1July2005),partiesareencouragedtoreachtheirownagreementsabouttheparentingofchildren.Iftheycannotagreeajudgecandecidewhichcaregiverprovidesday-to-daycareandwhattypeofcontactotherpartiesmayhave.
Mainfindingsfor2005to2008
Figure3showsthedistributionofpartiesgivenday-to-daycare,between2005and2008.Notethatthemajorityofordersaregiven‘byconsent’ofthepartiestotheproceedings,ratherthandecidedbyajudge.
• Thedistributionhashardlyvariedinthefouryearsofdata.
• Mostofthetime,day-to-daycareisgiventoasingleparty(eg,motheronly,fatheronly).Relativelyfewordersaresharedbetweentwoormoreparties.
• Thetotalnumberofparentingordershasbeenrising.In2006(thefirstfullyear),therewere4230finalorders,comparedto5812in2008.
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Figure4showsthenumberofparentingofchildrencases,calculatedasarateper1000coupleswithchildren(2006populationcensus).TherateishighestintheNewPlymouthandRotoruacourtcluster,andthelowestinNelsonandDunedin.TheSouthIslandclustersappeartohavelowerratesthantheNorthIslandones.
Figure 4. Number of new parenting of children cases (family groups) in 2008 per 1000 couples, by Court Cluster
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Figure 3: Day-to-day care parenting orders, 2005 - 20087
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Note:Theshadinginthemapaboveindicates‘rates’per1,000coupleswithchildren–thenumbersineachoftheregionsonthemappertaintotheactualnumberofnewcasesinitiatedinthatgeographicalregion.
7 Distributionofordersmadewheretherelationshipsbetweentheadultpartiesandthechildrenareallrecorded,datafor2005onlyfrom1July2005whenlegislationtookeffect.
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FamilyviolenceThissectionreportsoncasesandapplicationsrelatedtofamilyviolence.TheFamilyCourtdealswiththeissuingofprotectionordersandotherlegalmattersundertheDomesticViolenceAct1995.Protectionorderapplicationscanbemadewithoutnoticeoronnotice.8 Notethatpoliceprosecutionsforfamilyviolencecrimestakeplaceinthecriminalcourt.
Mainfindingsfor2004to2008
Overthisperiod,88percentofallprotectionorderapplicationswerefiledwithoutnotice.Ofthose,84percentresultedinatemporaryprotectionorder.
Figure5showsthenumberandfinaloutcomeofprotectionorderapplications.Thetotalnumberofprotectionorderapplicationshasbeenstablebetween2006and2008.Ithadfallensteadilyfrom1999,thefirstyearofelectronicrecording,to2006.
Figure 5: Number of protection order applications and final outcomes, 2004 - 2008
8 Onnoticeapplicationsareservedontherespondentwhohasanopportunitytorespond,beforeajudgeconsidersmakinganorder.Withoutnoticeapplicationsareconsideredbyajudgebeforetherespondenthasanopportunitytorespond(usuallybecausetherearesignificantsafetyconcerns).Ifajudgegrantsawithoutnoticeapplication,atemporaryprotectionorderismadeinthefirstinstanceandtherespondentcanthendefendtheorderbecomingfinal(permanent).Temporaryprotectionordersbecomepermanentautomaticallyafterthreemonthsunlesstheyarechallengedorwithdrawn.
Onceaprotectionorderisgranted,itremainsenforceableindefinitely.Italsousuallyrequirestherespondenttotheprotectionordertoattendastoppingviolenceprogramme.Iftheapplicationwaswithoutnotice,respondentscanobjecttoattendingtheprogramme.Theremovalofaprotectionorderrequiresthegrantingofanapplicationtodischargetheprotectionorder.Theapplicationtodischargecanbemadebyeithertheprotectionorderrespondentorapplicant.
Figure6showsthenumberoftwotypesofapplicationsthataregranted.Thetwotypesofapplicationsaretodischargetheprotectionorder,andobjectingtoprogrammeattendance.
• Thetotalnumberofgrantedapplications(bothtypes)isstablebetween2004and2008.
• Onlyabout30percentofapplicationsobjectingtoattendanceofaprogrammearegranted.
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Figure 6: Number of applications granted, 2004 – 2008
Figure7showsthegeographicalratesofnewfamilyviolencecasesin2008.Thenumbersoffamilyviolencecasesarecalculatedasarateper1000couples(2006populationcensus).TherateishighestintheGisborneandRotoruacourtcluster,andthelowestinNelson,DunedinandInvercargill.TheratesfortheSouthIslandclustersarenoticeablylowerthanthosefortheNorthIsland.
Figure 7: Number of new family violence cases (family groups) in 2008 per 1000 couples, by Court Cluster
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CareandprotectionofchildrenThissectionreportsonthecareandprotectionofchildrenundertheChildren,YoungPersonsandtheirFamiliesAct1989.Section14oftheActprovidesinstancesorgroundswherethestateshouldcareandprotectachild.ThehearingofchildcareandprotectioncasesareheldintheFamilyCourt.
Suchcasesareinitiatedbyanapplicationforadeclarationthatachildisinneedofcareandprotection–referredtosubsequentlyasanapplicationfordeclaration.
Whenadeclarationismade,theMinistryofSocialDevelopmentmustfileaplanproposinghowthechildwillbecaredfor.ThisplanmustbereviewedbytheCourtaslongasthechildiscoveredbytheAct.Forchildrenundersevenyearsofage,areviewistohappenatleastevery6months.Forchildrenoversevenareviewistooccuratleastevery12months.However,aFamilyCourtjudgemayordermorefrequentreviews.
Mainfindingsfor2004to2008
ThegroundsfordeclaringachildinneedofcareandprotectionareenteredintotheMinistryofJustice’sdatabase.Multiplegroundscanbeentered.Figure8showsthepercentageofapplicationswherethesegroundswerecited,categorisedbyagegroup.
• Forchildrenagedbelow10,likelihoodofharmtothechildisthepredominantreasonforprotection.
• Forchildrenagedabove10,otherreasons(eg,harmfulbehaviour)aremorefrequentlycited.
Thepercentagesdonotvarygreatlybetweenyears.Themostnoticeablechangehasbeenthedeclineinthe‘caregiverunabletocareforchild’ground.In2004,itwascitedinnearly40percentofalldeclarations.However,in2008,itwasmentionedinunder30percentofthem.
Figure 8: Grounds for protecting children, 2004 – 2008, by age group
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Figure9showsthenumberofchildrenassociatedwithcareandprotectiondeclaration.Thenumbershavedroppedsignificantlyfromthepeakin2006,whilstthegendermixisrelativelyconstant.
Figure 9: Annual number of children declared to be in need of care and protection – by
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9 Thedataisbasedontheyearinwhichthegrantedapplicationfordeclarationwasfiled.
10 Thedataisbasedontheyearinwhichthegrantedapplicationfordeclarationwasfiled.
11 Thedatafor2008isonlyforthefirstsixmonthsoftheyear.
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Theannualdistributionofchildren’sagesatdeclarationisshowninFigure10.Thereisabiastowardsyoungerchildren.Thegroupaged0to4yearsisalwaysthelargestgroup.The10to14yearoldgroupisthesecondlargestgroup.
Figure 10: Annual distribution of children’s ages declared to be in need of care and protection10, 2004 –2008
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Onceachildisincareandprotection,thecaseisregularlyreviewed–usuallyatintervalsof6or12months.Thereviewprocessinvolvesfilings135planreviewdocumentation.Theprocessisrepeateduntilthechildisdeemedtonolongerrequirecareandprotection.Thedistributionofchildren’sagesatfinalreview11isshowinFigure11.
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Thedistributionatfinalreviewisquitedifferentfromthedistributionatdeclaration.Thebiggestagegrouparethoseaged15andabove.Thissuggeststhatmanychildrenarecaredandprotectedfromdeclarationuntillegaladulthood.However,about60percentofchildrennolongerneedingcareandprotectionareagedbelow15yearsold.
Figure 11: Distribution of protected children’s ages (at final review), 2004 –2008
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DissolutionofrelationshipsThissectionreportsonapplicationstodissolverelationships.Bothmarriagesandcivilunionsarecoveredbythissection.
Mainfindingsfor2004to2008
Figure12showsthenumberofapplicationsforamarriageorciviluniondissolution(eitherjointdissolutionsorsingledissolutions).
• Thenumberofjointdissolutionapplicationsfellsteadilybetween2004and2008.In2004,therewere7561jointdissolutionscomparedto6457in2008.
• Thenumbersofsingledissolutionapplicationsremainsteady.
Figure 12: Number of dissolutions applications, 2004 - 2008
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Figure13showsthegeographicdistributionofnewdissolutioncasesin2008,per1000couples.BoththeNorthandSouthIslandsappeartohavethesamerateofdissolutioncases.However,theareawiththehighestrate(per1000couples)isintheNelson-Marlborougharea.
Figure 13: Joint and single dissolution cases, rate per 1000 couples, by Court Cluster, 2008
Note:Theshadinginthemapaboveindicates‘rates’per1,000couples–thenumbersineachoftheregionsonthemappertaintotheactualnumberofnewcasesinitiatedinthatgeographicalregion.
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NotesInthisbulletinthedatesusedarewhentheapplicationswerefiled,orwhenthecaseswerecreated.TrendsinFigure1arecompiledbyonlycountingsubstantiveapplications.
ThenumberofchildreninFigure9wasderivedbycountinguniqueidentifiersassociatedwiththeyearthedeclarationwasgranted.
Courtareasareestimatedbyallocatingeach2006censusmesh-blocktothenearestcourthouse.Nearnessismeasuredastheshortestroaddistancefromthegeographicalcentreofthemesh-blocktothecourthouse.Courtareapopulationsareestimatedbysumming2006censusdataonthesizeoftheusuallyresidentpopulationforthemesh-blockswithineachcourtarea.Forpresentationpurposes,offshoremesh-blocksarenotdisplayed.
Becauseofrounding,percentagesshowninthefiguresmaynotaddupto100percent.
Theterms“parentingofchildren”and“familyviolence”areusedhereinpreferenceto“guardianship”and“domesticviolence”adoptedinpreviousMinistryofJusticefamilycourtstatisticalreports.
OtherannualstatisticalreportsavailableTheResearch,EvaluationandModellingUnitwithintheMinistryofJusticepublishesannualstatisticalreports.ThesearelistedbelowandarecurrentlyavailableattheMinistryofJusticewebsite–http://www.justice.govt.nz
• ConvictionandSentencingofOffendersinNewZealand
• FamilyCourtStatisticsinNewZealand
• ChildandYouthOffendingStatisticsinNewZealand(formerlytitledYouthJusticeStatisticsinNewZealand)