Arson (destroy or damage property by fire)
Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) s 197(6)
Higher courts sentencing outcomes, 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2023
Charge data
In the higher courts, 216 charges of arson (destroy or damage property by fire) were sentenced in the five years to 30 June 2023. The most common sentence for a charge of this offence was imprisonment (88%, or 190 of 216 charges).
The shortest prison sentence was less than 1 month, the longest was 8 years, and the median was 1.67 years, meaning that half of the prison sentences were below 1.67 years and half were above.
On SACStat, a charge is a single count of a sentenced offence. Charge data is most useful in understanding how a specific crime is usually sentenced.
Case data
In 138 cases sentenced in the higher courts in the five years to 30 June 2023, arson (destroy or damage property by fire) was the principal proven offence (the most serious crime) in the case. In those 138 cases, 121 people were male and 17 people were female. The most common sentence was imprisonment (86%, or 119 of 138 cases).
The shortest prison sentence was less than 1 month, the longest was 11 years, and the median was 1.75 years, meaning that half of the prison sentences were below 1.75 years and half were above.
The shortest non-parole period was 0.83 years, the longest was 7 years, and the median was 2.17 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods were below 2.17 years and half were above.
A case is a collection of one or more charges against a person or company sentenced at the one hearing. Case data is most useful in understanding the total sentence usually imposed on people found guilty of a particular crime.
Note: The graph only includes data for the most severe sentence imposed for the charge. For example, only imprisonment is included for combined orders of imprisonment and a community correction order. Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is less than 1 month, the maximum is 8 years, and the median is 1.67 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 1.67 years and half are above.
Note: The graph only includes imprisonment that was not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate imprisonment).
Range and median: The minimum community correction order length is 1 year, the maximum is 3 years, and the median is 2 years, meaning that half of the community correction order lengths are below 2 years and half are above.
Note: The graph only includes data for the most severe sentence imposed for the charge. For example, only imprisonment is included for combined orders of imprisonment and a community correction order. Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: The graph only includes imprisonment that was not part of an aggregate sentence (non-aggregate imprisonment).
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is less than 1 month, the maximum is 11 years, and the median is 1.75 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 1.75 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is less than 1 month, the maximum is 11 years, and the median is 2 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 2 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is less than 1 month, the maximum is 3.75 years, and the median is 0.92 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 0.92 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is less than 1 month, the maximum is 11 years, and the median is 0.88 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 0.88 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is less than 1 month, the maximum is 9.5 years, and the median is 2 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 2 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum imprisonment length is 0.5 years, the maximum is 11 years, and the median is 3.25 years, meaning that half of the imprisonment lengths are below 3.25 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum non-parole period is 0.83 years, the maximum is 7 years, and the median is 2.17 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods are below 2.17 years and half are above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.
Range and median: The minimum non-parole period is 0.83 years, the maximum is 7 years, and the median is 2.29 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods are below 2.29 years and half are above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.
Range and median: The minimum non-parole period is 0.83 years, the maximum is 6.5 years, and the median is 2.17 years, meaning that half of the non-parole periods are below 2.17 years and half are above.
Note: Imprisonment terms do not include a community correction order.
Range and median: The minimum combined order length is less than 1 month, the maximum is 2.5 years, and the median is 0.86 years, meaning that half of the combined order lengths are below 0.86 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum community correction order length is 1 year, the maximum is 4 years, and the median is 2 years, meaning that half of the community correction order lengths are below 2 years and half are above.
Range and median: The minimum community correction order length is 1 year, the maximum is 3 years, and the median is 2 years, meaning that half of the community correction order lengths are below 2 years and half are above.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: Other in the graph may include probation, recognizance release orders (for Commonwealth offences) and residential treatment orders. Historical offences may include suspended sentences.
Note: NPP Cases in the graph indicates that only cases with a non-parole period are included.
