Virtual You Be the Judge is an interactive educational resource that gives you the opportunity to explore how sentencing works in Victoria.
Step into the role of a judge and work through a criminal case, considering the factors that judges take into account when sentencing. Along the way, you’ll learn about the sentencing process, hear from people involved in the justice system and make decisions about the sentence you would impose.
At the end, you can compare your sentence with the sentence imposed by the court.
Explore Three Victorian Cases
Virtual You Be the Judge features three cases from different Victorian courts:
- Murder: Supreme Court of Victoria
- Serious assault: County Koori Court
- Drink driving: Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Each scenario is based on a real case sentenced in Victoria. Details have been changed and the cases anonymised to protect the identities of the people involved.
An Interactive Sentencing Experience
Virtual You Be the Judge is designed to help you understand the complexity of sentencing and the many factors a judge must consider before deciding on an appropriate sentence.
Rather than simply reading about sentencing, you’ll actively work through each case. You’ll explore the circumstances of the offending and the person being sentenced. You'll also consider relevant sentencing factors and make decisions as the case progresses.
The experience shows why sentencing is rarely straightforward. It shows how judges balance different purposes, principles and considerations when determining a sentence.
Who Is Virtual You Be the Judge For?
Virtual You Be the Judge is designed for anyone who wants to better understand sentencing in Victoria.
It can be used by members of the community, students and teachers, and anyone interested in learning more about how Victorian courts approach sentencing.
You Be the Judge Sessions
The Sentencing Advisory Council also delivers facilitated You Be the Judge sessions for community groups and other organisations.
These sessions use real-world sentencing scenarios to help participants explore sentencing law, the factors judges consider and the challenges involved in deciding an appropriate sentence.
