SENTENCE LENGTH AND FINE AMOUNT

This chapter presents statistics about sentence lengths and fine amounts handed down to defendants proven guilty in all criminal courts in Australia for the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 for all states and territories except the Tasmanian Higher Criminal Courts, for which data are not available. Data also exclude defendants sentenced to life and indeterminate imprisonment and therefore numbers do not align with those presented in the other chapters.

Data presented refer to the principal sentence, which is the most serious sentence type imposed on a defendant, and the length or amount of this principal sentence. To provide a direct relationship between offences and sentences, the principal proven offence is then derived by taking the offence associated with this principal sentence. Where a principal sentence covers more than one offence, the most serious offence is selected.

Data are presented in the tables by mean and median sentence length or amount. The median is considered to be more representative as it is not influenced by outliers (e.g. long sentences handed down to a small number of defendants) which may impact on the mean. Therefore, the median is presented here in the commentary and graphs.

For more detail on principal sentence, principal proven offence, and sentence length and amount, refer to the Explanatory Notes paragraphs 46–57.

CUSTODY IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

During 2013-14, the median sentence length for all defendants given a principal sentence of custody in a correctional institution was 8 months. The longest median sentence length for defendants given a principal sentence of custody in a correctional institution was for Homicide and related offences (96 months).

The median sentence length for the most common principal proven offences for defendants given a principal sentence of custody in a correctional institution was:

• 8 months for Acts intended to cause injury (8,810 defendants or 25%);
• 12 months for Unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter (4,136 defendants or 12%);
• 4 months for Theft and related offences (3,574 defendants or 10%);
• 18 months for Illicit drug offences (3,259 defendants or 9%); and
• 6 months for Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (3,112 defendants or 9%). (Table 44)

COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS

During 2013-14, the median sentence length for community service orders was 80 hours. The longest median sentence length for defendants given a principal sentence of a community service order was for Sexual assault and related offences (120 hours).

The median sentence length for the most common principal proven offences for defendants given a principal sentence of a community service order was:

• 100 hours for Acts intended to cause injury (3,480 defendants or 20%);
• 100 hours for Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (2,911 defendants or 17%);
• 60 hours for Theft and related offences (2,122 defendants or 12%);
• 70 hours for Unlawful entry with intent/burglary, break and enter (1,486 defendants or 9%); and
• 100 hours for Illicit drug offences (1,373 defendants or 8%). (Table 45)

FINES

During 2013-14, the median fine imposed for those defendants given a principal sentence of a fine was $450. The highest median fine amount for defendants given a principal sentence of a fine was for Sexual assault and related offences ($1,000) and Robbery, extortion and related offences ($1,000).

The median for the most common principal proven offences for defendants given a principal sentence of a fine was:

• $400 for Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences (165,766 defendants or 53%);
• $380 for Public order offences (27,258 defendants or 9%);
• $400 for Illicit drug offences (25,173 defendants or 8%);
• $400 for Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (22,939 defendants or 7%); and
• $860 for Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons (20,967 defendants or 7%). (Table 46)