New Look Sentencing Snapshots
The Sentencing Advisory Council released the first of its new-look Sentencing Snapshots. The Snapshots have been redesigned to improve readability, and have been revised to include data from 2005-06.
The six reports contain statistics on sentencing outcomes for people sentenced for theft and deception offences, arson and attempted murder in the higher courts of Victoria between 2001-02 and 2005-06. The reports form part of a statistical series known as Sentencing Snapshots that presents summary statistics on sentencing in Victoria. Earlier reports in the series analyse sentencing trends for murder, manslaughter, culpable driving causing death, rape, robbery, armed robbery, burglary, aggravated burglary and injury offences.
The reports contain previously unpublished statistics on sentence types, lengths and non-parole periods, as well as the age and gender of people sentenced for these offences in the higher courts of Victoria.
Sentencing trends for handling stolen goods in the higher courts of Victoria
Of all those persons sentenced for the principal offence of handling stolen goods, only 2.6% (or 165 people) were sentenced in the higher courts over the five year period. The report found that 40% of the 165 people received a wholly suspended sentence of imprisonment. The most common wholly suspended sentence length was one year. The next most common sentence types imposed were imprisonment (28%), fines (8%) and partially suspended sentences of imprisonment (6%). The most common term of imprisonment was two years with a non-parole period of one year, and the longest imprisonment sentence imposed was seven years and nine months with a non-parole period of five years and six months.
Sentencing trends for theft in the higher courts of Victoria
Of all those persons sentenced for the principal offence of theft, only 0.8% (or 399 people) were sentenced in the higher courts over the five year period. The report found that 40% of the 399 people received a sentence of imprisonment. The most common term of imprisonment was two years with a non-parole period of one year, and the longest imprisonment sentence imposed was ten years with a non-parole period of seven years. The next most common sentence types imposed were wholly suspended sentences (29%), followed by partially suspended sentences (13%).
Sentencing trends for obtaining financial advantage by deception in the higher courts of Victoria
Of all those persons sentenced for the principal offence of obtaining financial advantage by deception, 17% (240 people) were sentenced in the higher courts over the five year period. The report found that around one in three (36%) of the 240 people received a wholly suspended sentence of imprisonment. The most common wholly suspended sentence length was one year. The next most common sentence types imposed were imprisonment (34%), followed by partially suspended sentences of imprisonment (9%). The most common term of imprisonment was two years with a non-parole period of one year, and the longest imprisonment sentence imposed was ten years with a non-parole period of seven years.
Sentencing trends for obtaining property by deception in the higher courts of Victoria
Of all those persons sentenced for the principal offence of obtaining property by deception, only 5.7% (211 people) were sentenced in the higher courts over the five year period. The report found that more than one in three (38%) of the 211 people received a sentence of imprisonment. The most common term of imprisonment was two years with a non-parole period of one year, and the longest imprisonment sentence imposed was seven years and six months with a non-parole period of five years and six months. The next most common sentence types imposed were wholly suspended sentences (33%), followed by partially suspended sentences (14%).
Sentencing trends for arson in the higher courts of Victoria
Of all those persons sentenced for the principal offence of arson, 99.3% (276 people) were sentenced in the higher courts over the five year period. The report found that almost one in three (31%) of the 276 people received a sentence of imprisonment. The most common term of imprisonment was two years with a non-parole period of one year, and the longest imprisonment sentence imposed was thirteen years and six months with a non-parole period of ten years. The next most common sentence types imposed were community based orders (24%), followed by wholly suspended sentences (23%).
Sentencing trends for attempted murder in the higher courts of Victoria
All of the 21 people sentenced for the principal offence of attempted murder were sentenced in the Supreme Court over the five year period. The report found that almost all (86%) of the 21 people received a sentence of imprisonment. The most common total effective imprisonment length was 11 years and the most common non-parole period was 8 years. The longest total effective imprisonment sentence imposed was 24 years. Other sentence types imposed were a non-custodial supervision order, a hospital security order and a custodial supervision order.