Purposes of Sanctions

Question 1

Rehabilitation

Answer 1

• To support or assist a person in addressing the root cause for their offending

Question 2

Examples of root causes of offending

Answer 2

• Lack of work opportunities
• Drug addiction
• Alcohol addiction
• Mental illness
• Anger
• Limited education

Question 3

Examples of addressing root causes of offending

Answer 3

• Educational programs
• Counselling
• Attending therapy
• Completion of workshops/classes

Question 4

Punishment

Answer 4

• To inflict pain or loss or an inconvenience to ensure the offender is penalised proportionally and held accountable for their actions
• It should take into consideration the impact of their crime on victims, their families, the nature of the offence and society

Question 5

Examples of punishment

Answer 5

• For offences like a manslaughter or rape, the maximum punishment is a prison term of 25 years, or a fine of 3000 penalty units
• For offences such as recklessly causing injury or possession of a drug of dependence, the maximum punishment is a prison term of 5 years or 600 penalty units

Question 6

Deterrence

Answer 6

• The act of discouraging an offender or other individuals from reoffending or committing similar crimes through criminal sanctions

Question 7

Specific deterrence

Answer 7

• This targets the offender and attempts to discourage them from reoffending

Question 8

General deterrence

Answer 8

• This targets the community - by seeing what sanctions the offend has received for their offence, this will hopefully discourage others from committing the same action

Question 9

Denunciation

Answer 9

• To publicly condemn an offenders behaviour or to show society’s disapproval
• The court denounces the offender’s actions to highlight the extent to which the offender has violated the moral and ethical standards of society
• This can occur during a judge’s statement at the end of the hearing or trial

Question 10

Protection

Answer 10

• To ensure that the offender does not pose a significant risk to the welfare and safety of their victims and broader society

Question 11

Examples of how protection is achieved

Answer 11

• Imprisonment enables the offender to be removed from the community and held in custody until a non-parole period is served
• Community corrections orders prevent the offender from visiting certain places, apply a curfew or makes them pay a bond that is forfeited if the CCO is contravened

Question 12

Legislation that governs sentencing

Answer 12

• The Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic)