Metadata


District courts


0. Registration entry for subjects


0.1 Name

District courts

0.2 Subject area

Justice

0.3 Responsible authority; office, division, person etc.

Lárus Blöndal
Hagstofu Íslands
Sími: 528 1281
larus.blondal@hagstofa.is

0.4 Purpose and history

The aim is to build up a databank of cases, proceedings and conclusions made in district courts. The law on the Separation of Judicial and Executive Powers at the District Level went into effect on 1 July 1992. The law established eight district courts and since their establishment the Statistics Iceland has systematically collected data on number of cases received and concluded. Justice statistics, not comparable with statistics since 1993, have been compiled on an occasional basis since 1864.

0.5 Users and application

Users who work with data on judicial matters: The Ministry of Justice, politicians, judges, and the public. The data might be of use in public administration, in the educational system and in various researches.

0.6 Sources

The eight district courts.

0.7 Legal basis for official statistics

Act on Statistics Iceland no. 163/2007.

0.8 Response burden

Number of cases are recorded in the eight district courts, then sent to an expert who combines the information and sends it to Statistics Iceland in an Excel format.

0.9 EEA and EU obligations


1. Contents


1.1 Description of content

Data collected contain number of received and concluded cases in the district courts. Also the outcome of the cases and length of proceedings. The cases are classified into civil cases and criminal cases as well as other various classes, such as bankruptcy petitions, criminal investigation court orders, etc.

1.2 Statistical concepts


2. Time


2.1 Reference periods

The calendar year.

2.2 Process time

Only a couple of weeks after the data is sent to Statistics Iceland if there is no discrepancy in the data. Otherwise it can take few more weeks to wait for replies to the inquiries.

2.3 Punctuality

In February/March each year sixteen statistical web tables, including figures for the previous year, are released.
Two tables are published in the Statistical Yearbook of Iceland, Landshagir.
In addition there has been one publication in the year 2004 in the Statistical Series, Hagtíðindi and another one is intended in 2007.

2.4 Frequency of releases

Yearly in the Statistical Yearbook of Iceland.
Yearly releases of web tables
A special publication of Statistical Series, Hagtíðindi is published every second or third year.

3. Reliability and security


3.1 Accuracy and reliability

The data is considered reliable and accurate.

3.2 Sources of errors


3.3 Measures on confidence limits/accuracy


4. Comparison


4.1 Comparison between periods

Comparison between years is regarded as reliable.

4.2 Comparison with other statistics


4.3 Coherence between preliminary and final statistics

No preliminary figures.

5. Access to information


5.1 Forms of dissemination

Statistics, categorised statistical web tables
Statistical Series, Hagtíðindi
Statistical Yearbook of Iceland, Landshagir

5.2 Basic data; storage and usability

Data is received in Excel format and is preserved like that.

5.3 Reports


5.4 Other information

© Hagstofa �slands, �ann 27-8-2008