We’ve released Sentencing in Victoria 2014-15 to 2023-24, our third yearly report on 10 years of sentencing trends in Victoria.
The report includes high-level data for all criminal jurisdictions in Victoria: the Supreme Court, the County Court, the Magistrates’ Court and the Children’s Court. It includes data on how many cases are sentenced in those jurisdictions each year, the types of offences being sentenced, and the types of sentences being imposed.
Among other things, some of the key trends in 2023–24 include increased use of adjourned undertakings and diversion, and increased fines for companies.
More Adjourned Undertakings
Adjourned undertakings are being used more in the Magistrates’ Court. They are the equivalent of good behaviour orders, requiring the person to agree to certain conditions for a period of time – especially to not reoffend. In 2023–24, 19% of the around 85,000 cases sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court resulted in an adjourned undertaking. This is the highest yearly rate of adjourned undertakings since their introduction in 1985.
More Youth Diversion
Youth diversion continues to be used more in the Children’s Court. Diversion involves a child accepting responsibility for their behaviour and agreeing to comply with certain conditions – especially to not reoffend. Youth diversion has been available in Victoria since 2017. There has been sustained growth in the use of youth diversion since then, accounting for over half of all outcomes in the Children’s Court in the two most recent financial years.
Bigger Fines for Companies
Noticeably high fines have been imposed on companies in the County Court in recent years. The two highest fines imposed on companies in the last 10 years (and perhaps ever) were both in 2023: almost $3 million in a case involving various safety and environmental offences, and $2.1 million in a case involving a serious workplace safety offence. Prior to those two cases, the highest fine imposed on a company was in 2022: $1.7 million for various defective disclosures relating to superannuation products.
Find out more by accessing Sentencing in Victoria 2014–15 to 2023–24 on our website.
