Generally, the police or the Director of Public Prosecutions are responsible for determining what criminal charges a person will face based on available evidence.

Statistics suggest that most people who are charged with criminal offences plead guilty. However, should the accused choose to contest the charge(s), they will either face a hearing before a Magistrate, a trial before a judge and jury, or a judge (sitting alone) to decide if they are guilty or not guilty .

When an accused person comes before the Magistrates' Court for a summary charge or an indictable charge capable of being heard and determined summarily, sentence is usually passed on the same day as the finding of guilt.

The Magistrate decides the outcome of summary matters , generally regarded as a less serious form of criminal offending and include traffic offences, less serious types of assault, drug charges, property damage and family violence matters.

The County Court hears most matters involving indictable offences, which are more serious charges, including matters of substantial theft, aggravated burglary, significant fraud, sexual offences and armed robbery charges.

The length of sentence given to a person found guilty in the County Court is usually higher than that of the Magistrates' Court, which has a maximum of two years for a single offence and five years for multiple offences.1

The Supreme Court hears the most serious of all criminal offending including terrorism, treason, murder and attempted murder and in the case of civil charges, matters involving complex legal issues and claims in relation to substantial amounts of money.

How Sentencing Works

The instinctive synthesis of the sentencing discretion is the term used to describe what is taken into account by a Magistrate or Judge at the time of passing sentence. It involves the Magistrate or Judge identifying all matters required to enable them to assess what would be an appropriate sentence in all the circumstances.

When determining a sentence, a Magistrate or Judge considers five main aspects. These are just punishment, rehabilitation, deterrence, denunciation and community protection.2

Prior to a Magistrate or Judge making a determination as to the appropriate sentence in a case, both prosecution and defence counsel present information to the Judge at a plea hearing with an indication of where the offending sits on the sentencing scale. This indication is not binding on the Magistrate or Judge.

Section 5(2) of the Sentencing Act 1991 explains the matters considered when sentencing an adult. These include:

  • Maximum penalty for the offence
  • Current sentencing practices
  • Nature and gravity of the offending
  • Offender's culpability (blameworthiness)
  • Was the crime motivated by hatred or prejudice?
  • Impact of offence on any victim
  • Personal circumstances of any victim
  • Any injury, loss, or damage resulting directly from the offence
  • Offender's previous character (although not permitted in certain circumstances)
  • Presence of aggravating (aspect increasing seriousness of offending) or mitigating (aspect reducing seriousness of offending) factors

Matters which may also be considered include:

  • Offender's intention
  • Consequence of offence
  • Use of weapons
  • Breach of trust
  • Offender's history of offending
  • Offender's response to previous court orders
  • Alcohol or drug addiction

If the accused pleaded guilty then a discount is given on the sentence, with the Magistrate or Judge declaring what the sentence would have been had the accused not pleaded guilty.

Whilst in adult sentencing, consideration of rehabilitation is one equal factor in determining a sentence; in sentencing young offenders, rehabilitation is the principal consideration. 3

How The Public Think Judges Get It Wrong

Studies suggest that the general public think that sentences are too lenient.

What does 'get it wrong' mean? Was the sentence too harsh or was it too soft?

Well, this appears to depend on that very human characteristic called emotion.

For example, if a family member was killed and the offender received a sentence for manslaughter, as opposed to murder, it is only human for the victim's family to think that the judge or jury got it wrong. It stands to reason that the general public who themselves are mothers, fathers, siblings would think the judge or jury got it wrong.

Which takes us to the question of wherein lies the truth? Well, history tends to show that in the vast majority of cases, judges and juries get it right.

This is in no small part due to the Sentencing Advisory Councils or their equivalent, which exist in most Australian states and indeed most countries. Their job is to dispassionately, comprehensively and expertly analyze research. This assists the courts to ultimately impose a just punishment and to act in the interests of justice.

Footnotes

1 Sentencing Act 1991 http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/sa1991121/
2 https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/about-sentencing/sentencing-principles-purposes-factors 3
http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/cyafa2005252/s362.html

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.