Date of Publication
02 February 2021
The Council has updated its Guide to Sentencing Schemes in Victoria to reflect changes to sentencing schemes as at 1 January 2021.
The updates include:
- the classification of homicide by firearm as a Category 2 offence, a Category A serious youth offence and a standard sentence offence
- changes to thresholds and limitations on impaired mental functioning as a special reason
- changes relevant to accessories to emergency worker offences
- an additional requirement to consider parliamentary intent when special reasons exist for certain Category 1 offences.
The Guide contains handy reference tables covering Category 1 and 2 offences, standard sentences, statutory minimum sentences, statutory minimum youth justice centre orders, Category A and B serious youth offences and serious offender provisions.
The Council produced the Guide to assist judicial officers, practitioners, criminal justice stakeholders and the broader community in understanding how particular sentencing schemes apply to select offences.
The updated Guide to Sentencing Schemes is available for download from this website.