To the Honourable Jeff Shaw QC
Attorney General for New South Wales
Dear Attorney
Sentencing
We make this final Report to the reference to this Commission dated 12 April 1995.
Acting Justice Michael Adams QC
(Chairman)
Professor Michael Tilbury
(Commissioner-in-Charge)
The Hon Justice John Dowd AO
(Commissioner)
The Hon Justice David Hunt
(Commissioner)
Judge Angela Karpin
(Commissioner)
Professor David Weisbrot
(Commissioner)
December 1996
Terms of reference
Pursuant to section 10 of the Law Reform Commission Act 1967 (NSW), the Attorney General, the Honourable Jeff Shaw QC MP, referred the following matter to the Law Reform Commission by letter dated 12 April 1995:
To inquire into and report on the laws relating to sentencing in New South Wales with particular reference to:
(i) the formulation of principles and guidelines for sentencing;
(ii) the rationalisation and consolidation of current sentencing provisions;
(iii) the adequacy and use of existing non-custodial sentencing options with particular reference to home detention and periodic detention;
(iv) the adequacy of existing procedures for the release of prisoners by the Offenders Review Board and the Serious Offenders Review Council and the benefits that might accrue from the review of the decisions of the Offenders Review Board and the Serious Offenders Review Council by judicial officers; and
(v) any related matter.
In undertaking this reference, the Commission should have regard to the proposals in relation to sentencing contained in the Australia Labor Party policy documents formulated in Opposition.
Participants
The Law Reform Commission is constituted by the Law Reform Commission Act 1967. For the purpose of this reference, the Chairman, in accordance with the Act, established a Division comprising the following members of the Commission:
Mr Michael Adams QC
The Hon Justice John Dowd AO
The Hon Justice David Hunt
Her Honour Judge Angela Karpin
Professor Michael Tilbury (Commissioner-in-Charge)
Professor David Weisbrot
Officers of the Commission
Executive Director
Research and Writing
Ms Adrienne Bailey
Ms Rebecca Kang
Mr Robert Mitchell
Mr Joseph Waugh
Librarian
Desktop Publishing
Administrative Assistance
Ms Jean Dulieu
Ms Zoya Howes
Consultants
