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How sentencing works

When a person is charged with and pleads guilty or is found guilty of committing an offence in Queensland, they will be sentenced by a court.

This page explains what a sentence is, how the sentencing process works, and the key people involved in sentencing.

What is a sentence?

A sentence is a penalty or punishment a court imposes once a person pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of an offence.

A sentence isn’t just about going to prison. There are lots of different sentences a court can give to a person, some of which don’t involve going to prison at all. For example, a person found guilty could receive a fine, a community service order or probation. Read more about types of sentences.

The sentencing process in Queensland

There are several steps involved before a person is sentenced.

Different legal roles

There are several key people involved in sentencing.

This information is not intended to provide legal advice and has been prepared for the purposes of providing information only. While all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this information, no liability is assumed for any errors or omissions.