Historically high conviction rates in the ACT have plummeted after COVID-19 emergency laws took away the right to a trial by jury.

Statistically between 60 to 70 per cent of people who go to trial by jury in the ACT are found guilty of their crimes.

But the annual report found conviction rate dropped to just 12.5 per cent during the emergency law period.

After the emergency law ceased on June 15th it remains possible for people who were previously excluded from judge-alone trials, such as accused murderers, rapists, and child sex offenders, to still request one.