Culpable driving causing death
Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) s 318(1)
Higher courts sentencing outcomes, 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2022
Charge data
In the higher courts, 87 charges of culpable driving causing death were sentenced in the five years to 30 June 2022. The most common sentence for a charge of this offence was imprisonment (98%, or 86 of 87 charges).
The shortest prison sentence was 3 years, the longest was 10 years, and the median was 8 years, meaning that half of the prison sentences were below 8 years and half were above.
On SACStat, a charge is a single count of a sentenced offence. Charge data is most useful in understanding how a specific crime is usually sentenced.
Case data
In 73 cases sentenced in the higher courts in the five years to 30 June 2022, culpable driving causing death was the principal proven offence (the most serious crime) in the case. In the 73 cases, 64 people were male and 9 people were female. The most common sentence was imprisonment (98%, or 72 of 73 cases).
The shortest prison sentence was 3 years, the longest was 18.5 years, and the median was 8.29 years, meaning that half of the prison sentences were below 8.29 years and half were above.
The shortest non-parole period was 1 year, the longest was 14.5 years, and the median was 5 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods were below 5 years and half were above.
A case is a collection of one or more charges against a person or company sentenced at the one hearing. Case data is most useful in understanding the total sentence usually imposed on people found guilty of a particular crime.
Standard sentencing
Culpable driving causing death is a standard sentence offence with a standard sentence of 8 years' imprisonment if committed on or after 1 February 2018.
For the 51 charges dealt with as a standard sentence offence, 50 received imprisonment. For the 50 charges, the shortest prison sentence was 3 years, the longest was 10 years, and the median was 8.5 years, meaning that half of the prison sentences were below 8.5 years and half were above.
In the 41 cases where culpable driving causing death was dealt with as a standard sentence offence, imprisonment was imposed in 40 cases. In those 40 cases, the shortest prison sentence was 3 years, the longest was 18.5 years, and the median was 9.62 years, meaning that half of the prison sentences were below 9.62 years and half were above.
Note: The graph only includes data for the most severe sentence imposed for the charge. For example, only imprisonment is included for combined orders of imprisonment and a community correction order. Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 3 years, the maximum is 10 years, and the median is 8 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 8 years and half are above.
Note: The graph only includes imprisonment that was not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate imprisonment).
Note: The graph only includes data for the most severe sentence imposed for the charge. For example, only imprisonment is included for combined orders of imprisonment and a community correction order. Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: The graph only includes imprisonment that was not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate imprisonment).
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 3 years, the maximum is 18.5 years, and the median is 8.29 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 8.29 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 3 years, the maximum is 18.5 years, and the median is 8.5 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 8.5 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 3 years, the maximum is 14 years, and the median is 8.67 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 8.67 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 3.25 years, the maximum is 18.5 years, and the median is 8.08 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 8.08 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 3 years, the maximum is 18.5 years, and the median is 8.29 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 8.29 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum non-parole period is 1 year, the maximum is 14.5 years, and the median is 5 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods are below 5 years and half are above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.
Range and median: The minimum non-parole period is 1 year, the maximum is 14.5 years, and the median is 5.67 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods are below 5.67 years and half are above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.
Range and median: The minimum non-parole period is 1 year, the maximum is 9.5 years, and the median is 5 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods are below 5 years and half are above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.
Range and median: The minimum non-parole period is 1 year, the maximum is 14.5 years, and the median is 5.5 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods are below 5.5 years and half are above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: NPP Cases in the graph indicates that only cases with a non-parole period are included.
Note: The graph only includes data for the most severe sentence imposed for the charge. For example, only imprisonment is included for combined orders of imprisonment and a community correction order. Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 3 years, the maximum is 10 years, and the median is 8.5 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths were below 8.5 years and half were above.
Note: The graph only includes imprisonment that was not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate imprisonment).
Note: The graph only includes data for the most severe sentence imposed for the charge. For example, only imprisonment is included for combined orders of imprisonment and a community correction order. Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders.
Note: The graph only includes imprisonment that was not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate imprisonment).
Note: The graph only includes data for the most severe sentence imposed for the charge. For example, only imprisonment is included for combined orders of imprisonment and a community correction order. Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders.
The minimum imprisonment length is 3 years, the maximum is 18.5 years, and the median is 9.62 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths were below 9.62 years and half were above.
The minimum non-parole period is 1 years, the maximum is 14.5 years, and the median is 6 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods were below 6 years and half were above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include imprisonment combined with a community correction order.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders.
Note: NPP Cases in the graph indicates that only cases with a non-parole period are included.
