Media Releases

25 June 2024 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has today published a new report examining the use of the Criminal Justice Diversion Program in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria for the 10 years from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2021. The report shows that 93% of people successfully complete diversion plans, and that people receiving diversion plans are half as likely to reoffend as people who receive other court outcomes.

18 June 2024 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has today published a new report showing sentencing trends from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2022 for all criminal court jurisdictions in Victoria.

14 May 2024 - Pregnant offenders could request a delay of their sentencing to give birth outside prison under a suite of reforms recommended by the Sentencing Advisory Council.

13 February 2024 - Marking the first major review in 20 years, the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council has today published two reports about the sentencing of occupational health and safety (OHS) offences.

23 January 2024 - The Victorian Government has provided the Sentencing Advisory Council with terms of reference to examine the sentencing of occupational health and safety (OHS) offences committed by both individuals and organisations, and to make relevant recommendations for reform.

27 June 2023 - Adjourned undertakings – also known as good behaviour orders, or bonds – are the second most common sentence type (after fines) imposed in Victoria but they have not been reviewed since they were first introduced in 1985, almost 40 years ago. In its new report, the Sentencing Advisory Council has made 26 recommendations for their improvement.

11 October 2022 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has published a new consultation paper seeking stakeholder and community views on possible changes to deferred sentencing.

13 September 2022 - A review of sentencing data from the last 20 years reveals that courts in Victoria are now more likely to send offenders to prison for serious offences and that those offenders are getting longer sentences.

16 August 2022 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has published a new consultation paper seeking stakeholder and community views on possible changes to adjourned undertakings.

19 July 2022 - The Sentencing Advisory Council’s latest report reviews 20 years of case law in Australia and highlights inconsistencies in how media coverage affects sentencing outcomes.