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Fewer Suspended Sentences Given

The Sentencing Advisory Council today released two statistical reports that analyse trends in sentencing and breach data for partially and wholly suspended sentences of imprisonment and for intensive correction orders and community-based orders (community sentences). They present data on the use and breach of suspended sentences and community sentences from 2000-01 to 2006-07.

Suspended Sentences in Victoria

Suspended Sentences in Victoria: A Statistical Profile presents an analysis of suspended sentences imposed in the Magistrates’ Court and higher courts (Supreme and County) from 2000-01 to 2006-07. There were 45,556 suspended sentences imposed in the Magistrates’ Court and higher courts over the seven-year period. Between 2004-05 and 2006-07, the number of people who received a suspended sentence in the Magistrates’ Court declined by 10.5% (from 6,355 to 5,689) and in the higher courts the number declined by 21.7% (from 711 to 557).

Suspended sentences were most often imposed for offences against the person in the higher courts (43.3%) and for property offences in the Magistrates’ Court (33.6%). Additionally, nearly one third (30.9%) of suspended sentences imposed in the Magistrates’ Court were for traffic offences.

Just over one in four (27.5%) of all suspended sentences imposed during 2000-01 and 2001-02 were breached within five years. The breach rate for suspended sentences imposed in the Magistrates’ Court (29.1%) was substantially higher than that of suspended sentences imposed in the higher courts (8.6%). For both court levels, people aged under 25 years had a much higher breach rate than those aged 25 years or older. The breach rate for people aged under 25 years in the Magistrates’ Court was 34.3% (compared with 26.9% for people aged 25 and over) and in the higher courts, it was 13.5% (compared with 6.7% for people aged 25 and over).

Community Sentences in Victoria

Community Sentences in Victoria: A Statistical Profile presents an analysis of data on community sentences commenced in 2006-07 and community sentences imposed in the courts between 2000-01 and 2006-07. More than one in six (17.2%) people sentenced in the higher courts received a community sentence in 2006-07, compared with 7.3% in the Magistrates’ Court.

Community sentences were used differently depending on the age and gender of the offender. In 2006-07 in the higher courts, women were more likely to receive a community sentence than men (23.1% compared with 16.6%), and offenders aged under 25 years were substantially more likely to receive a community sentence than offenders aged 25 years and over (30.3% compared with 12.1%).

In both the higher courts and the Magistrates’ Court, community sentences were most likely to be imposed for offences against the person (19.2% in the higher courts and 20.1% in the Magistrates’ Court).