Text as at 15 April 2026

This provision has not been checked by a human. The text below was read automatically from the official PDF and has not yet been verified against it, so it may differ from the provision as published — in its wording, its numbering, or where one provision ends and the next begins. For the authorised text, see legislation.vic.gov.au.

1 Purposes

The purposes of this Act are—

(a)to promote consistency of approach in the sentencing of offenders;

(b)to have within the one Act all general provisions dealing with the powers of courts to sentence offenders;

(c)to provide fair procedures—

(i)for imposing sentences; and

(ii)for dealing with offenders who breach or contravene the terms or conditions of their sentences;

S. 1(c)(ii) amended by No. 26/2012 s. 26.

(d)to prevent crime and promote respect for the law by—

(i)providing for sentences that are intended to deter the offender or other persons from committing offences of the same or a similar character; and

(ii)providing for sentences that facilitate the rehabilitation of offenders; and

(iii)providing for sentences that allow the court to denounce the type of conduct in which the offender engaged; and

(iv)ensuring that offenders are only punished to the extent justified by—

(A)the nature and gravity of their offences; and

(B)their culpability and degree of responsibility for their offences; and

(C)the presence of any aggravating or mitigating factor concerning the offender and of any other relevant circumstances; and

(v)promoting public understanding of sentencing practices and procedures;

(e)to provide sentencing principles to be applied by courts in sentencing offenders;

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(g)to provide for the sentencing of special categories of offender;

(h)to set out the objectives of various sentencing and other orders;

(i)to ensure that victims of crime receive adequate compensation and restitution;

(j)to provide a framework for the setting of maximum penalties;

(k)to vary the penalties that may be imposed in respect of offences under the Crimes Act 1958;

(l)generally to reform the sentencing laws of Victoria.