In 2019 we published the first report to examine how animal cruelty offences are sentenced in Victoria. Some of the key findings from that review are in the image below.
sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/
Follow
Sentencing Advisory Council (Vic)
@SACvic
Research, statistics & education about sentencing in Victoria.
Tweets about relevant criminal justice matters.
Twitter policy here: bit.ly/TOLyeU
Sentencing Advisory Council (Vic)’s Tweets
A new consultation on Engage Victoria seeks your views on possible changes to Victoria’s animal cruelty laws, including the introduction of a new offence of intentional or reckless cruelty.
engage.vic.gov.au/new-animal-wel
1
1
Show this thread
"Opinion: Towards a future without youth prisons" | 's in 's September edition of the Law Institute Journal
3
4
One of the questions we're asking in our latest consultation paper is whether we need to clarify what is meant by 'good behaviour'. Our team looked at case law all the way back to the 1700's and couldn't find a definition. Submissions are open to 27 Sep.
sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/
6
7
"Affirmative consent laws have passed in Victoria. Here's what that means" | via for
3
1
“The is holding a public consultation on Scotland’s first offence guideline, covering offences of causing death by driving.”
Link: ions.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk/ssc/death-by-d
3
4
Topics to follow
Sign up to get Tweets about the Topics you follow in your Home timeline.
Carousel
The CFBS Webinar Series is pleased to present Professor Matthew Lindquist on Thursday September 15 at 4pm for ‘The Health Effects of Prison.’ How does spending more time in prison affect the health of former prison inmates? Find out more and register teams.microsoft.com/registration/e
3
2
Staff from the and the recently collaborated to better understand when a sentence is manifestly excessive. A version of the peer-reviewed journal article arising from that work is now freely available on our websites.
Link: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/publications/w
10
11
Are you seeking to undertake research that will make a difference to Australian criminal justice policy? If so, we encourage you to apply for our 2022 Criminology Research Grants.
Now open! Apply here: bit.ly/3AhNgxh
4
13
Victoria paying more than $1m a day to keep unsentenced prisoners in jail | Victoria | The Guardian
3
7
21
For our latest consultation paper, our incredible statistical team developed a machine learning model to examine the types of conditions attached to adjourned undertakings, finding that optional conditions are attached to about half of all undertakings.
sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/
1
1
This year's conference will be held in the Hyatt Hotel Canberra from 31 October to 2 November. Some of the conference program is already available, but they are also still accepting abstracts.
View the program and register here: aic2022.thisiscreative.com.au
1
We have a couple of new projects underway. We’re conducting a literature review on the effectiveness of diversion, and producing an updated statistical profile on the Criminal Justice Diversion Program.
sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/current-projec
6
Tonight we're looking at Australia's current privacy laws and how they shape the way we create and engage with online content. What does the right to privacy look like in the digital age? We’ll be joined by Roxanne Lorenz who is a lawyer . Tune in 6pm 855AM!
5
5
Paul replaces David Grace QC on the Council, as a highly experienced defence lawyer. David was a founding member of the Council, having been us since we were first established in 2004. We thank him for his many years of service and wish him all the best.
5
Show this thread
The Council is excited to officially welcome the appointment of Mr Paul Smallwood (preeminent criminal barrister with ) as a Director of the Sentencing Advisory Council ().
3
1
18
Show this thread
Earlier this week we released a consultation paper seeking your views on possible reforms to adjourned undertakings and related orders. Download the consultation paper on our website: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/
Submissions are due 27 September.
1
2
3
The Hon Margaret McMurdo; ‘In my work with the Taskforce I learnt that nearly all women in Queensland prisons were victims of... violence’ #engenderingjustice
1
16
17
This morning we have released our sentencing profile on women and girls in Queensland. It found a fourfold increase in the number of women sentenced to imprisonment over 15 years.
2
4
2
Should activist groups be allowed to use secretly filmed footage to expose the treatment of animals at farms and abattoirs? on Farm Transparency International's case before the .
Listen live from 5.30pm:
2
6
5
One of the questions we’re asking in our latest consultation paper is whether these orders should have a new name altogether.
Find out what other questions we’re asking in our consultation paper here: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/
Submissions due 27 September.
1
4
Show this thread
“Do I call them correctly orders or bonds or does it not matter?”
“Well they’re in fact called adjourned undertakings.”
“Well I’m not saying that.”
speaking to our Chair this morning.
Listen back here:
1
2
3
Show this thread
Research Manager explores the characteristics and role of opportunity in recidivist child sexual assault offenders, victims and incidents in our latest research report. Read the full report: bit.ly/3QqfDi9
17
19
Our Chair, Emeritus Professor Arie Freiberg AM, will be speaking to about our new consultation paper in 5 minutes at 9:05am on . Listen live here: abc.net.au/melbourne/live
Quote Tweet
JUST RELEASED: Our new consultation paper provides Victoria-first insights into the use of adjourned undertakings (good behaviour orders), and we're seeking your views on possible reforms.
Media release: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/news-media/med
Consultation paper: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/publications/r
Show this thread
We're now seeking your views - both from those who work in the justice system and the broader community - about possible reforms to adjourned undertakings. Submissions are open for 6 weeks to 27 September, and can be emailed to contact@sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au.
Show this thread
In an Australian-first, the consultation paper shows the types of optional conditions attached to adjourned undertakings, using a machine learning process developed by our staff. About half had no optional conditions, and the most common condition was a Court Fund donation.
1
Show this thread
The majority of adjourned undertakings were precisely 12 months long.
1
Show this thread
The most common offence type in cases resulting in an adjourned undertaking were traffic and vehicle offences, in about a quarter of cases.
1
Show this thread
In the the median age of people receiving adjourned undertakings was 33 years old, and women were more likely to receive an adjourned undertaking than men (18% of sentenced women compared to 13% of sentenced men).
1
Show this thread
Above and beyond that numerical increase, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of sentences in the Magistrates' Court that were adjourned undertakings, particularly since 2015.
1
Show this thread
There has been a significant increase in the number of adjourned undertakings in Victoria over the last decade. The drop in 2020 is a result of the effect of COVID-19 on court operations.
1
Show this thread
JUST RELEASED: Our new consultation paper provides Victoria-first insights into the use of adjourned undertakings (good behaviour orders), and we're seeking your views on possible reforms.
Media release: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/news-media/med
Consultation paper: sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/publications/r
1
11
8
Show this thread
“Unit two men escaped from at Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre 'closed permanently', Victorian Department of Justice says” | via
New Zealand Labour repeals three-strikes law its says led to ‘absurd’ sentences | via
1
2
“Donna Adams has been appointed Tasmania’s first female Commissioner of Police” | last week via
“Renewed calls to revoke Northern Territory's mandatory sentencing following power outages inside Darwin's prison” | via
1
OUT TUESDAY: We'll be seeking your views on possible changes to adjourned undertakings (often called good behaviour orders) and related orders in Victoria. Submissions will be open for 6 weeks to 27 September.
5
8
The Meeting of Attorneys-General was held today to discuss key work priorities relating to law reform. A summary of decisions is now available: ag.gov.au/about-us/publi
2
8