QUEENSLAND SENTENCING GUIDE February 2021 Queensland Sentencing Guide © Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council 2021 This guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. In essence, you are free to copy, communicate and adapt this guide, as long as you attribute the work to the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, Queensland Sentencing Guide. To view a copy of this licence, visit www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 First published June 2018 Second edition December 2019 Third edition February 2021 ISBN 978-0-6485965-0-9 This publication is available for download from the Council’s website: www.sentencingcouncil.qld.gov.au. Disclaimer: The content of this guide is for information only. If you have a legal problem, you should seek legal advice from a lawyer. The guide should not be relied upon as legal advice and if you have a specific legal problem, you should seek legal advice about your own particular circumstances. While all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this guide, no liability is assumed for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or injury, financial or otherwise, suffered by any person acting or relying on information contained in or omitted from this publication. This guide reflects the law as at 31 October 2020. Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council is established by section 198 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld). Its functions are detailed in section 199 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld). Further information: Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council GPO Box 2360, Brisbane Qld 4001 Tel: (07) 3738 9499 Email: [email protected] About the Queensland Sentencing Guide The Queensland Sentencing Guide explains how Queensland courts sentence adult offenders. This guide does not explore how courts sentence children and young people. Children are sentenced under different legislation, namely the Youth Justice Act 1992 (Qld). The Council intends to release a separate guide on the sentencing of children and young people in 2021. The focus of this guide is on sentencing undertaken by Queensland courts. While some of what is described applies generally in other Australian states and territories, there are significant differences in the detail. QUEENSLAND SENTENCING GUIDE | 1 Contents About the Queensland Sentencing Guide ....................................................................................1 What is sentencing? .......................................................................................................................4 Responsibility for sentencing.........................................................................................................4 The sources of sentencing law ....................................................................................................................4 Parliament of Queensland ...........................................................................................................................5 Parliament of Australia .................................................................................................................................5 Courts ............................................................................................................................................................6 Courts and jurisdiction ...................................................................................................................6 Categories of offences in Queensland ..............................................................................................7 Magistrates Courts .......................................................................................................................................7 District Court .................................................................................................................................................8 Supreme Court .............................................................................................................................................8 Other Queensland courts ............................................................................................................................9 Childrens Court (Magistrates Court) ................................................................................................. 9 Childrens Court of Queensland (District Court) ............................................................................... 9 Murri Court ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court ............................................................................10 Drug and Alcohol Court....................................................................................................................10 Mental Health Court ........................................................................................................................10 National courts ......................................................................................................................................... 11 High Court of Australia .....................................................................................................................11 Sentencing process in Queensland .......................................................................................... 12 Sentencing hearing ................................................................................................................................... 12 Role of the prosecutor .......................................................................................................................... 12 Role of the defence ............................................................................................................................... 12 Role of the judge or magistrate ........................................................................................................... 13 The courtroom ................................................................................................................................... 13 Role of the victim ....................................................................................................................................14 Deciding what sentence to impose ............................................................................................ 15 Sentencing purposes ............................................................................................................................... 15 Sentencing factors .................................................................................................................................... 15 Sentencing principles in case law .............................................................................................................16 Sentencing adults in Queensland ....................................................................................................16 Culpability ....................................................................................................................................................17 Mitigating and aggravating factors ...........................................................................................................17 Guilty plea ............................................................................................................................................18 Cooperation with law enforcement ....................................................................................................18 Maximum penalty ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Life sentence ....................................................................................................................................19 Mandatory penalties ................................................................................................................................. 20 Serious violent offence (SVO) scheme ...........................................................................................21 Presumptive penalties ..............................................................................................................................21 Cumulative and concurrent sentences ...................................................................................................21 Remand ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 Recording a conviction .............................................................................................................................. 22 QUEENSLAND SENTENCING GUIDE | 2 Penalty types ................................................................................................................................ 23 Non-custodial sentencing orders ............................................................................................................ 23 Absolute discharge ..........................................................................................................................23 Recognisance (good behaviour bond) ............................................................................................23 Fine ...................................................................................................................................................24