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Tough, tougher, toughest? A new government’s approach to sentencing laws in Victoria

McDonnell, Michelle and Farrell, James 2012, Tough, tougher, toughest? A new government’s approach to sentencing laws in Victoria, Alternative law journal, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 238-243.

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Title Tough, tougher, toughest? A new government’s approach to sentencing laws in Victoria
Author(s) McDonnell, Michelle
Farrell, James
Journal name Alternative law journal
Volume number 37
Issue number 4
Start page 238
End page 243
Total pages 6
Publisher Legal Service Bulletin Co-operative
Place of publication Melbourne, Vic
Publication date 2012-12
ISSN 1037-969X
Keyword(s) Sentencing
law and order
Summary When in opposition, Victoria¹s Liberal/National coalition made a number of commitments to be 'tough on crime'. After winning the 2010 state election, the Government arguably reformed sentencing laws more quickly and more substantially in its first year of office than any other area of policy, with several key initiatives delivered or in train.

The Victorian experience exemplifies fast and forceful responses to perceived risks to community safety by new Australian Governments. While some political leaders have decried the 'law and order auction' approach by political parties, it remains a real tool in political discourse.

Some of these initiatives appear inconsistent with fundamental sentencing principles, and are designed more to address public perceptions which are disconnected from the realities of criminality and incidence of offending. A more appropriate basis for criminal justice policy may require Government to prioritise addressing the causes of offending behavior, rather than penalising consequences.
Language eng
Field of Research 180104 Civil Law and Procedure
180110 Criminal Law and Procedure
Socio Economic Objective 940408 Rehabilitation and Correctional Services
HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
Copyright notice ©2012, Legal Service Bulletin Co-operative
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30049724

Document type: Journal Article
Collections: School of Law
Alfred Deakin Research Institute
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Created: Tue, 04 Dec 2012, 10:22:05 EST by James Farrell