❓ Opposition questions the government's reduced imprisonment strategy, alleging it allows serious offenders to avoid jail. The government denies this, citing increased prison numbers and specific offence categories.
AnsweredQoN 793Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Labor Party policy known as “Labor’s reduced imprisonment strategy”, which has now been introduced into law, which prohibits magistrates from handing out jail terms of six months or less to some serious repeat offenders. (1) Is the minister aware that not only are fine defaulters and minor offenders now escaping a jail term under Labor’s new policy, but also drug dealers, home burglars and people who commit assaults? (2) Does the minister believe that a good behaviour bond or a community-based order is appropriate for home burglars who have a previous record? (3) Does the minister agree that Labor is sending a message to would-be offenders that if they get caught committing a serious crime in the community they more than likely will not go to jail under this Labor Government? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(1) Is the minister aware that not only are fine defaulters and minor offenders now escaping a jail term under Labor’s new policy, but also drug dealers, home burglars and people who commit assaults? (2) Does the minister believe that a good behaviour bond or a community-based order is appropriate for home burglars who have a previous record? (3) Does the minister agree that Labor is sending a message to would-be offenders that if they get caught committing a serious crime in the community they more than likely will not go to jail under this Labor Government? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(2) Does the minister believe that a good behaviour bond or a community-based order is appropriate for home burglars who have a previous record? (3) Does the minister agree that Labor is sending a message to would-be offenders that if they get caught committing a serious crime in the community they more than likely will not go to jail under this Labor Government? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(3) Does the minister agree that Labor is sending a message to would-be offenders that if they get caught committing a serious crime in the community they more than likely will not go to jail under this Labor Government? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(1) Is the minister aware that not only are fine defaulters and minor offenders now escaping a jail term under Labor’s new policy, but also drug dealers, home burglars and people who commit assaults? (2) Does the minister believe that a good behaviour bond or a community-based order is appropriate for home burglars who have a previous record? (3) Does the minister agree that Labor is sending a message to would-be offenders that if they get caught committing a serious crime in the community they more than likely will not go to jail under this Labor Government? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(2) Does the minister believe that a good behaviour bond or a community-based order is appropriate for home burglars who have a previous record? (3) Does the minister agree that Labor is sending a message to would-be offenders that if they get caught committing a serious crime in the community they more than likely will not go to jail under this Labor Government? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(3) Does the minister agree that Labor is sending a message to would-be offenders that if they get caught committing a serious crime in the community they more than likely will not go to jail under this Labor Government? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Justice provides the following response - (1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(1) No. (2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(2) The number of persons under sentence with burglary as their major offence, who had previously been in prison for a non-fine-default sentence, increased by 12.7 per cent between 31 August 2003 and 31 August 2004. (3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
(3) The Department of Justice advises that prison numbers, sentenced and unsentenced combined, have climbed by approximately 10 per cent since August 2003. Major offence-charge categories of “against the person” increased by 10 per cent, and “break-enter or steal” by three per cent. The number of prisoners for whom burglary was the major offence or charge increased by 7.7 per cent. This indicates that if a person is apprehended committing serious crimes in the community, it is more than likely that a term of imprisonment will be imposed.
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