Publications news

Sentencing Bench Book Update 59 published

Sentencing Bench Book front cover
29 August 2024

Update 59 amends the Bench Book to update and revise various chapters, and incorporate recent case law and legislative developments. The following chapters have been revised:

Subjective matters

  • [10-570] Deportation to add reference to the CDPP’s recently updated Sentencing of federal offenders in Australia: a guide for practitioners (edition 7.2), July 2024.

Section 21A factors “in addition to” any Act or rule of law

  • The chapter at [11-000]ff has been extensively revised in relation to the discussion of mitigating factors under s 21A(3) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 at [11-200]ff.

Sentencing Commonwealth offenders

Break and enter offences

  • The chapter at [17-000]ff has been substantially revised and reference added to following cases:
    • R v Ball [2021] NSWCCA 314 regarding the assessment of objective seriousness where the offence of aggravated break and enter was committed following provocation by the victim
    • MM v R [2016] NSWCCA 235 and Taufa v R [2020] NSWCCA 264 regarding taking into account “circumstances of aggravation” in a s 112(2), (3) Crimes Act 1900 offence.

Sexual offences against children (NSW)

  • [17-400]ff to add amendments consequential on the publication of the new [17-700] Commonwealth child sex offences (see below) and to update cross-references. Note: this chapter is currently under review.

Commonwealth child sex offences

  • A new chapter, Commonwealth child sex offences, has been added at [17-700]ff. This chapter provides detailed commentary in respect of sentencing for Commonwealth child sex offences, and includes a table of such offences at [17-800] detailing maximum penalties and, where relevant, mandatory minimum penalties, with cross-references to relevant commentary in the chapter.

Fraud offences