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Review of sentencing laws

Reference received: Originally received 20 October 1994 but following a change of Government, a new expanded Reference was received on 12 April 1995.

Reports

Report 79: Sentencing [PDF, 1Mb], December 1996

Tabled in parliament: 10 April 1997

Legislative action: Periodic Detention of Prisoners Amendment Act 1998; Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sentencing) Act 1999; Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999; Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999; Criminal Legislation Amendment Act 2001 Sch 1; Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (General Sentencing Principles) Act 2002; Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment (Parole) Act 2004

Judicial citation: Stafford v R (1997) 79 FCR 1; R v Lawson (1997) 142 FLR 323 (NSWCCA), [2]; R v Barbara (NSW CCA, No 60638/96, 24 February 1997, unreported) per Hunt CJ at CL, [10]; R v Previtera (1997) 94 ACrimR 76 (NSWSC), [20], [21]; R v Kalajzich (1997) 94 ACrimR 41 (NSWSC); Bollen v The Queen (1998) 99 ACrimR 510; R v Jurisic(1998) 45 NSWLR 209;
R v Meehan (1998) 37 WCB (2d) 58; Bernes v The Queen (Tas, CCA, No 124/97, 2 April 1998, unreported), 4; Director of Public Prosecutions v Hamman (NSW, Court of Criminal Appeal, No 60388/98, 1 December 1998, unreported), 41; R v Petrinovic [1999] NSWSC 1131 [25]; R v Harris (2000) 50 NSWLR 409, 423 424; R v Gamgee (2001) 51 NSWLR 707 [7 [14]; Ly v Jenkins (2001) 114 FCR 237 [111]; R v Parsons [2002] NSWCCA 296, [85]; R v Eagleton [2003] NSWCCA 40, [24]; R v Strong (2003) 141 ACrimR 56 (NSWCCA), [110] R v Merritt (2004) 59 NSWLR 557 (NSWCCA), [49]; Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Weir (2004) 40 MVR 380 (NSWSC); Strong v The Queen (2005) 216 ALR 219 (HC [57], [61]; Commissioner of Corrective Services v Wedge [2006] NSWCA 271; R v Johnson [2007] NSWSC 274, [28]; R v Curtis (No 2) [2009] SASC 350 [28]

Report 96: Sentencing: Aboriginal offenders [PDF, 942Kb], October 2000

Tabled in parliament: 5 June 2009

Report 104: Young offenders [PDF, 1Mb], December 2005

Tabled in parliament: 14 November 2007

Legislative action: Courts and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2007; Children (Criminal Proceedings) Amendment Act 2008

Report 102: Sentencing: Corporate offenders [PDF 1Mb], June 2003

Tabled in parliament: 5 June 2009

Judical citation: Stuart v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2010] FCAFC 65 [55]

Discussion paper

Discussion Paper 33: Sentencing, April 1996

Judicial citation: Bollen v The Queen (1998) 99 ACrimR 510; R v Jurisic (1998) 45 NSWLR 209; R v Thorley [1999] TASSC 73, [26]; R v Merritt [1999] NSWCCA 29; R v Collier [1999] NSWCCA 137, [10]-[11]; Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321, [75]; R v Gamgee (2001) 51 NSWLR 707, [7], [14]; R v Parsons [2002] NSWCCA 296, [85]; R v Ruth (Newfoundland Provincial Court, 16 January 2002, Gorman PCJ, unreported); R v Eagleton [2003] NSWCCA 40, [24]; R v Merritt(2004) 59 NSWLR 557 (NSWCCA) [49]; R v SP (2004) 149 ACrimR 48 [42]; R v Graham (2004) 62 NSWLR 252 (CCA), [18]; Strong v The Queen (2005) 216 ALR 219 (HC), [62]; Ledson v Taylor [2010]ACTSC 42 [59]

Issues papers

Issues Paper 19: Sentencing - Young offenders, July 2001
NSW Law Reform Commission Media Release - Sentencing Young offenders (13 September 2001)

Issues Paper 20: Sentencing - Corporate offenders, November 2001

Terms of reference

To inquire into and report on the laws relating to sentencing in New South Wales with particular reference to:

(i) the formulation of principles and guidelines for sentencing;

(ii) the rationalisation and consolidation of current sentencing provisions;

(iii) the adequacy and use of existing non-custodial sentencing options with particular reference to home detention and periodic detention;

(iv) the adequacy of existing procedures for the release of prisoners by the Offenders Review Board and the Serious Offenders Review Council and the benefits that might accrue from the review of the decisions of the Offenders Review Board and the Serious Offenders Review Council by judicial officers; and

(v) any related matter.

In undertaking this reference, the Commission should have regard to the proposals in relation to sentencing contained in the Australia Labor Party policy documents formulated in Opposition.