Media Releases

11 March 2026 - A new report released today examining the sentencing of federal crime in Victoria in the five years to 30 June 2023 finds that the most common federal crime being sentenced in Victoria is using a carriage service (such as a mobile phone or computer) to menace, harass or offend another person.

7 October 2025 - A new report by the Sentencing Advisory Council has found that Victoria’s prison population grew 62% in the 20 years to 30 June 2024, driven mostly by fluctuations in the number of people held on remand – that is, people charged with offending but not released on bail.

26 June 2025 - A new report by the Sentencing Advisory Council has found that very few cases sentenced in Victoria involve an offence committed by a child aged 10 to 13 (0.32% of all cases in the 10 years to 30 June 2021).* Further, only 0.02% (1 in 5,000) involved an offence committed by a child aged 10 to 11.

26 February 2025 - The Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council has today published a report with 12 recommendations to change how occupational health and safety (OHS) offences are sentenced in Victoria. For cases involving OHS offences, the recommendations aim to enhance the role of victims in sentencing, change sentencing practices, and improve payment rates for fines imposed on companies.

5 December 2024 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has today published new sentencing data for the 10 years to 30 June 2023 for all criminal court jurisdictions in Victoria.

22 October 2024 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has today published a new report examining whether fines imposed in the Magistrates’ Court have kept pace with inflation and the changing value of a penalty unit in Victoria over the last 20 years.

25 June 2024 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has today published a new report examining the use of the Criminal Justice Diversion Program in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria for the 10 years from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2021. The report shows that 93% of people successfully complete diversion plans, and that people receiving diversion plans are half as likely to reoffend as people who receive other court outcomes.

18 June 2024 - The Sentencing Advisory Council has today published a new report showing sentencing trends from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2022 for all criminal court jurisdictions in Victoria.

14 May 2024 - Pregnant offenders could request a delay of their sentencing to give birth outside prison under a suite of reforms recommended by the Sentencing Advisory Council.

13 February 2024 - Marking the first major review in 20 years, the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council has today published two reports about the sentencing of occupational health and safety (OHS) offences.