Standard non-parole periods

On 11 September 2013 the Attorney General asked us to review some aspects of the standard non-parole period (SNPP) scheme. 

Reports

We transmitted our Report: Standard non-parole periods (PDF, 1.0 MB) to the Attorney General on 17 December 2013. It was released in October 2014.

We transmitted our Interim Report: Standard non-parole periods - sexual offences against children (PDF, 572.7 KB) to the Attorney General on 6 November 2013. It was released in October 2014.

Some of our recommendations were implemented by Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Firearms Offences) Act 2015 which commenced on 21 August 2015.

Other documents

The following documents were part of the consultation process for our Reports:

• Submissions (responding to the Consultation Paper)
• Consultation Paper: Standard Minimum Non-Parole Periods - Questions for discussion (PDF, 242.1 KB) (published in September 2013)

Terms of reference

We received the following terms of reference on 11 September 2013:

Pursuant to section 100J of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, the Sentencing Council is requested to review (including undertaking consultation with stakeholders and the community) the following aspects of the standard non-parole period scheme:

(a) the offences which should be included in the standard non-parole period Table

(b) the standard non-parole periods for those offences, and

(c) the process by which any further offences should be considered for inclusion in the Table and any further standard non-parole periods set

and advise on options for reform of these aspects of the scheme.

In light of the establishment of the Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry into child sexual assault offences, I would be grateful if the Council could prioritise consideration of standard non-parole periods for child sexual assault offences and report back on the following matters by 31 October 2013:

a) identification of child sexual assault offences that should be included in the standard non-parole period Table; and

b) whether there are specific factors that should be taken into account to determine the standard non-parole periods for child sexual assault offences and, if so, what those factors are.