The number of drugs cases in the District Courts increased by over a quarter last year, the Courts Service revealed today.
During 2006 there were 8,842 drugs offences processed, compared to 7,003 the previous year. Out of those, only 888 resulted in prison sentences.
The number of drug-related cases seen in district courts increased by a quarter last year. Image: David Sleator.
Overall, the District Courts dealt with 10 per cent more cases than in 2005 with drugs offences showing the biggest increase.
Some 1,038 cases were either dismissed or struck out, while more than a quarter of them resulted in fines for offenders.
Judges ordered community service in 136 cases, and 1,580 were dealt with under the Probation Act.
The District Court only deals with minor drugs offences, such as possession, while the more serious cases were sent to the Circuit Court where bigger penalties can be imposed.
Records also showed larceny cases increased by more than 16 per cent, from 20,969 in 2005 to 24,463, while public order and assault offences increased by around 4 per cent in 2006, from 37,119 to 38,700. Some 5,452 larceny offences resulted in jail sentences while 4,934 assault cases resulted in custodial sentences.
The number of summary cases in the District Courts increased from 302,134 to 329,775. The number of indictable cases (cases which can go to Circuit Court jury trials) dealt with summarily by the District Court increased from 41,374 in 2005 to 48,272 in 2006, a rise of almost 17 per cent.
The Courts Service said there were 1,091 extra/special sittings of the District Court last year to allow for the speedier hearing of cases.