Total cases sentenced in Queensland courts on the rise in 2025-26

As part of its annual update, the Council has refreshed its online Sentencing DataHub to include sentencing information from the 2025-26 financial year.

The data found the increase in sentenced cases was driven mainly by the number of adult cases sentenced which increased from 100,653 to 107,035. The number of child cases sentenced decreased from 5,551 to 5,077.

Council Chair and former Chief Judge of the District Court Kerry O’Brien AM said the annual update to the Sentencing DataHub was a part of the Council’s commitment to publishing information about sentencing and informing the community about the sentencing process.

“Accurate and up-to-date information about sentencing trends and outcomes helps the community to have confidence in the justice system and understand how it is working for them,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The DataHub also enables those working in the justice system to make evidence-based decisions supported by the most recent data.

“The data shows that for adults sentenced in the Magistrates Court the most common offence was vehicle offences involving liquor or other drugs, which increased by 11.1 per cent when compared to 2024-25. In the higher courts, the most common offence was possessing dangerous drugs which increased by 7.4 per cent.

“For children sentenced the Magistrates Court the most common offence was stealing which decreased by 12.9 per cent when compared to 2024-25. In the higher courts the most common offence was robbery which decreased by 11.4 per cent.”

Mr O’Brien advised against drawing conclusions from the data without more research, as there are often multiple, interconnected factors which influence sentencing trends.

The Sentencing DataHub also features data on more than 100 individual offences, including the number of charges sentenced, offender demographics and sentencing outcomes.

Explore the Sentencing DataHub here.

Quick facts – adults
Magistrates Court

Magistrates Court sentenced cases involving adults increased by 6.3% (from 96,132 to 102,154). The 5 most common offences in 2025–26 included:

• Vehicle offences involving liquor or other drugs—27,832 cases (11.1% increase)
• Driving of motor vehicle without a driver licence prohibited—21,132 cases (16.1% increase)
• Contravention of domestic violence order—15,566 cases (4.6% decrease)
• Possessing dangerous drugs—10,356 cases (14.1% increase)
• Stealing—9,260 cases (9.9% increase).

Monetary penalties were the most common penalty imposed, accounting for 63.6% of sentences. This represents an increase of 4,599 cases (7.6% increase) from 2024–25.

Imprisonment accounted for 12.3% of sentences—an increase of 1,353 cases (12.0% increase) from 2024–25.

Higher courts

District Court sentenced cases involving adults increased by 7.3% (from 3,679 to 3,949) and Supreme Court sentenced cases involving adults increased by 10.7% (from 842 to 932). The 5 most common offences in 2025–26 sentenced in the higher courts included:

• Possessing dangerous drugs—1,078 cases (7.4% increase)
• Possession of drug utensils—757 cases (3.4% increase)
• Assaults occasioning bodily harm—741 cases (0.8% increase)
• Common assault—617 cases (3.9% increase)
• Supplying dangerous drugs—573 cases (4.0% decrease)

Imprisonment was the most common penalty imposed, accounting for 65.8% of sentences. This represents an increase of 203 cases (6.7% increase) from 2024–25.

Quick facts – children

Magistrates Court

In Magistrates Court sentenced cases involving children decreased by 8.7% (from 5,045 to 4,606). The 5 most common offences in 2025–26 included:

• Stealing—1,583 cases (12.9% decrease)
• Unlawful use or possession of motor vehicles, aircraft or vessels—1,474 cases (17.5% decrease)
• Breach bail condition—1,367 cases (1.7% decrease)
• Entering or being in premises and committing indictable offences—1,011 cases (15.8% decrease)
• Wilful damage—876 cases (5.5% decrease).

Reprimand was the most common penalty imposed, accounting for 27.5% of sentences. This represents a decrease of 79 cases (6% decrease) from 2024–25.

Detention accounted for 6.7% of sentences—an increase of 34 cases (12.6% increase) from 2024–25.

Higher courts

District Court sentenced cases involving children decreased by 7.4% (from 497 to 460) and Supreme Court sentenced cases involving children increased by 22.2% (from 9 to 11). The 5 most common offences in 2025–26 sentenced in the higher courts included:

• Robbery—240 cases (11.4% decrease)
• Unlawful use or possession of motor vehicles, aircraft or vessels—124 cases (27.9% decrease)
• Burglary—92 cases (11.5% decrease)
• Assaults occasioning bodily harm—71 cases (12.7% increase)
• Stealing—68 cases (20.9% decrease).

Probation was the most common penalty imposed, accounting for 48.6% of sentences. This represents a decrease of 28 cases (10.9% decrease) from 2024–25.

Detention accounted for 21.5% of sentences—and whilst there was no change in volume receiving detention from the previous year, in 2024-25 less than 20% of cases were sentenced to detention.