Confidence in justice system has declined since 2019

PUBLIC confidence in the NSW criminal justice system has declined over time, with a pronounced fall since 2019, according to new research by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

Based on a representative survey of 2,000 NSW adults, the study found that public confidence fell across all key measures from 2012 to 2025.

The decline accelerated in recent years, such that current confidence levels are now the lowest level on record.

In 2025, just over half of respondents (54 percent) expressed confidence that the system brings offenders to justice.

Confidence was higher for procedural justice measures, with 73 percent agreeing that the rights of the accused are respected and 69 percent saying accused people are treated fairly.

However, confidence is substantially lower in relation to victims and timeliness.

Just 34 percent of respondents expressed confidence that the system meets the needs of victims and only 23 percent said it deals with cases promptly.

BOCSAR Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said public confidence is a critical component of an effective justice system.

“Public confidence underpins the legitimacy of the criminal justice system,” she said.  “When trust declines, people may be less willing to report crime, engage with police and courts, or participate as witnesses and jurors.”

Confidence in police sees the biggest decline

While confidence declined for both police and courts, the fall has been most pronounced for police, particularly from 2019 to 2025.

Confidence that police bring offenders to justice dropped from 82 percent in 2019 to 73 percent in 2025, while confidence that police meet the needs of victims fell from 70 percent to 56 percent.

Confidence that police deal with cases promptly dropped from 66 percent to 49 percent, as did confidence in police treatment of accused people, with both fairness and respect measures falling to 69 percent (from 77 and 75 percent respectively).

“Confidence in the police has declined across a range of measures,” Ms Fitzgerald said. “Possible local factors driving the decline include strained police-community relations during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased media scrutiny, and heightened public debate around issues such as youth crime and domestic violence.

“However, similar patterns observed internationally suggest this could also reflect a broader decline in trust in public institutions.”

Perceptions of rising crime remain widespread

The survey shows that perceptions of rising crime remain widespread, despite not always aligning with recorded trends.

For example, half the respondents believed property crime increased over the past five years, when in fact it significantly declined over this period.

“This gap between crime perceptions and reality is a consistent finding in our research,” said Ms Fitzgerald.

“It highlights that people’s views about crime and the criminal justice system are often shaped by a range of factors beyond recorded trends, including personal experience, media reporting and community concerns.

“Ensuring the community has access to accurate and accessible information is therefore critical to maintaining confidence in the system.”