Sentencing definitions

Release without a conviction being recorded and without any further penalty.

A person who has been charged with an offence but who has not yet been found guilty or not guilty. Also referred to as a defendant.

A finding that a person is not guilty of a criminal charge.

To suspend court proceedings to start again at a future date or in a different place, or indefinitely.

Facts agreed to by the defence and the prosecution regarding the charges before the court. Usually presented after a plea of guilty.

A fact or detail about the offence, the victim, or the offender that may increase the sentence received.

To accuse someone of having done something illegal. The prosecution does this and must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt if the defendant does not plead guilty.

Background details about an offender, like their age, relationship status, employment history, and criminal history (this usually includes details of past convictions and penalties).

When a party to a court case challenges a decision, and a higher court reviews it.

Parties are people or entities involved in court proceedings. For example, for appeals against sentence, the person sentenced and the prosecution.

Learn more about the sentencing appeal process.

The party appealing a court’s decision. This can be the defendant or the prosecution. The other party in the appeal is called the respondent. However, the term ‘applicant’ is used instead of ‘appellant’, in 3 specific types of appeal (see below).

A person who wants to appeal to the Court of Appeal against their sentence, or against their conviction if it involves a question of fact. This term is also used to describe anyone who wants to appeal to the High Court.

The person wishing to appeal is called an applicant because in these cases, they do not have an immediate legal right to appeal.

The appeal cannot be heard unless the court first allows it (‘grants leave’ to appeal).

A promise (undertaking) to come back to court for trial or sentencing. Bail may have extra conditions, like reporting to the police, living at a certain place, or a surety (money put up by someone else to guarantee the person will come back to court). It is an offence for an adult to breach bail.

An order, made in addition to sentence, banning an offender entering a certain licensed premises (e.g. nightclub or bar) or entering a particular area near a licensed premises during certain hours, or attending a particular public event at which alcohol will be sold.

This is the standard of proof, or level of proof, courts must apply in deciding what facts they should sentence someone on after the person has been convicted of an offence. This is applied when either the prosecution or defence do not agree with an allegation of fact.

The court must be satisfied that it is more probable than not that the allegation is true. This is also the standard of proof for civil cases.

This is the standard of proof that the prosecution must meet before a person accused of a crime can be found guilty.

To break a court order (also called a contravention).

The prosecution of one or more charges against a person in court.

Law developed through decisions made by courts in previous cases. This includes decisions about sentencing and how to interpret legislation.

This is also known as common law and precedent.

A formal allegation made on arrest, or in court, that a person has committed an offence.

Special courts at the Magistrates Courts level dealing with criminal offences committed by children.

A special court at the District Court level dealing with more serious criminal offences committed by children, and appeals from the Childrens Court.

A fact that is part of an offence, making the offender liable to a greater punishment than the penalty that applies to the basic (simpliciter) version of that offence.

An example is being armed with a weapon when committing robbery. A circumstance of aggravation must be specifically made part of the charge if it is to apply.

Law developed through decisions made by courts in previous cases. This includes decisions about sentencing and how to interpret legislation.

This is also known as case law and precedent.

An offence committed against Commonwealth legislation, such as Centrelink fraud, telecommunications offences, offences at an airport or on an aircraft, terrorism, people smuggling, drug importation, and some internet and child pornography material offences.

A process in a Magistrates Court to send (commit) indictable offences to either the District Court or Supreme Court.

To be sent (committed) to a higher court for trial or sentence.

If the accused person enters a plea of guilty, they are committed for sentence. Otherwise, they are committed for trial.

Community Justice Groups (CJGs) are run by members of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

They provide submissions to courts on bail and sentencing. CJGs provide a community-based response to local issues, working with defendants and cooperatively with magistrates, police, corrective services personnel, and staff from government agencies.

An order to do unpaid community service for between 40 and 240 hours, usually within 12 months of conviction, and to comply with reporting and other conditions.

An order, made in addition to any other sentence, to pay for property taken, destroyed, damaged or interfered with, or for any personal injury caused by an offence.

The person who makes the complaint to the State against the defendant. The complainant is the person who has suffered harm directly because of a criminal offence.

If the defendant pleads or is found guilty, these terms can change to victim and offender.

Individual sentences of imprisonment for different offences, ordered to be served at the same time.

This means any shorter sentence is included in the longest (or ‘head’) sentence.

For example, a sentence of 5 years and a sentence of 2 years served concurrently means that an offender must serve a total of 5 years’ imprisonment (the head sentence).

When a court order is not followed (also called a breach).

An order, made in addition to a sentence, and in circumstances relating to serious organised crime or criminal organisations.

A control order imposes conditions to protect the public by preventing, restricting or disrupting the offender’s involvement in serious criminal activity.

A finding that a person is guilty of an offence, including because the person pleads guilty.

A distinct charge on an indictment.

A division of the Supreme Court. The final court for all appeals in Queensland. It hears appeals from the District Court and trial division of the Supreme Court. Only the High Court is superior.

A direction by a court. This might include telling a person to do something (like come to court again) or not to do something, and what sentence the court has imposed.

A parole order where the parole release date is fixed by the court. This means the offender is automatically released on that date.

The court must fix a date if the offender is sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment or less – but not if the sentence is for a sexual or serious violent offence, or an existing parole order was legally cancelled by the new sentence.

The most serious type of indictable offences.

These are split up into 3 types: crimes, misdemeanours and simple offences.

The first 2 types are also classed as indictable offences.

A document showing any convictions recorded by a court against a person for proven offences. It includes the penalty imposed.

The prosecution may be referred to as the Crown, represented by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (either the Queensland or Commonwealth offices).

Blameworthiness — i.e. how morally responsible the person is for the offence and for the harm he or she caused.

For example, someone who plans to commit an offence in advance will generally be treated as more culpable than someone who commits it on the spur of the moment.

Individual sentences, given for each offence, that are ordered to be served one after the other, rather than at the same time (concurrent sentences).

For example, a sentence of 5 years and a sentence of 2 years served cumulatively would make a head sentence of 7 years’ imprisonment.

An order that involves a term of imprisonment being imposed on the offender.

Detention of an adult in a prison or watch-house.

This may be while they are serving a sentence of imprisonment, or because they have been denied bail and are on remand (also known as pre-sentence custody if the person is convicted of the offence or offences charged), waiting to have the charge finalised.

‘The defence’ describes the defendant, and his or her legal advisors.

A defence, in law, is a legal reason why a person is not guilty of an offence (e.g. self-defence).

Partial defences also exist that can result in a person being found guilty of a less serious offence (e.g. manslaughter rather than murder).

The person who has been charged with an offence but who has not yet been found guilty or not guilty. The term can be used interchangeably with accused.

Communication of society’s strong disapproval of an offender’s criminal conduct.

One of the 5 sentencing purposes in Queensland.

The principle that a person should only be sentenced for an offence for which they have been found guilty (named after the High Court case that established the principle).

This is a sentencing principle.

Discouraging the offender and other members of the community from committing a crime by the threat of a punishment or by someone experiencing a punishment.

Where the aim is to discourage the offender from committing further offences, this is known as personal or specific deterrence. When aimed at the general community, it is called general deterrence.

One of the 5 sentencing purposes in Queensland.

Discretion means choice. For most offences heard in Queensland courts, sentencing outcomes are not automatic. This allows courts to choose the sentence that is most appropriate in each case, by weighing up all the different things the court must or may consider.

The second level of the Queensland court system above the Magistrates Courts and below the Supreme Court.

It deals with serious criminal offences such as rape, child sexual offending, armed robbery and many serious drug offences.

The District Court can also hear an appeal against a sentence imposed in the Magistrates Courts.

An order, made as part of, or in addition to, any sentence that disqualifies a person from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence or from doing so for a specified period.

A special type of Magistrates Court that provides an intensive and targeted response to adult offenders with a severe substance use disorder directly associated with their offending. It connects offenders, families and friends to support, treatment and services.

Watch our Doing Justice Differently video and follow an offender through the Drug and Alcohol Court.

A special sentencing order of the Drug and Alcohol Court. The treatment order is a prison sentence that is suspended while the offender participates in intensive rehabilitation programs under supervision in the community.

Proof of an alleged fact. This can include what a witness says happened, documents (including recordings, text messages, drawings and photographs), things (e.g. a knife) and facts that a court accepts as evidence of facts in the case.

Sentencing remarks delivered orally at the end of the sentence hearing. This is the most common sentencing approach used by Queensland courts.

A penalty requiring an offender to pay an amount of money within a certain period of time.

A non-custodial order in the form of a document that the offender signs, promising not to break the law for a set period. It can also set an amount of money that must be paid if they break this promise. Also known as a recognisance.

An order of up to 40 hours of community service to remove graffiti, usually within 12 months of conviction.

The reason/s why the party appealing a decision says the decision made by a magistrate, judge or jury was wrong.

The total period of imprisonment imposed taking into account, if more than one prison sentence is imposed, whether they are ordered to be served concurrently or cumulatively.

The highest court in the Australian judicial system. The High Court only deals with legal matters of wider public importance and is not a sentencing court.

In Queensland, these are the District and Supreme Courts.

Serving a sentence in prison or, if a special type of court order is made (intensive correction order), by way of intensive correction in the community.

A sentence of imprisonment is also served in the community if the court orders it to be suspended for a period of time.

A sentence of imprisonment with no fixed end date. It can only be ordered for some offences, and only when a court is satisfied an offender is considered a serious danger to the community. It must be reviewed periodically.

A written document with the charge/s (each one being called a count) bringing a person to trial in a higher court.

The most serious types of criminal offences.

They are generally sentenced by the Supreme or District Courts. However, almost all indictable offences with a maximum penalty of 3 years’ imprisonment or less, must be sentenced summarily in Magistrates Courts. Procedural laws also state that some with a higher maximum can, or must, be sentenced summarily.

The way Australian courts sentence, unless mandatory sentencing applies.

The judge or magistrate considers all of the relevant factors to decide what sentence to give in an individual case. These can often conflict with each other. Then, a single sentence is imposed that balances these factors.

A sentence of imprisonment of one year or less ordered to be served in the community and including intensive supervision, community service, and treatment programs.

A judge is the person in charge of cases heard in the higher courts.

In the Supreme Court, judges are called justices. They hear the case, instructs any jury (if there is a trial) and decide the sentence.

A group of (usually) 12 people selected at random from the general community for a trial if an accused person pleads not guilty to an alleged offence.

The jury decides whether the accused person is guilty or not guilty of the alleged offence but does not sentence the person. A judge decides the sentence.

Justices are the people in charge of cases heard in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and High Court.

They are judges who are formally called justices.

Permission needed from the Court of Appeal for an offender to appeal against a sentence (or a conviction if it involves a factual issue).

The test for getting leave to appeal is that a ground of appeal (the reason for making the appeal) has a reasonable prospect of succeeding because of an arguable error.

An appeal to the High Court requires ‘special leave’ (permission) to appeal no matter who brings the appeal.

Also called statute law. Legislation is comprised of written laws either made or authorised by Parliament.

The person in a Magistrates Court who hears the case and makes decisions about whether someone is guilty or not, and what penalty (sentence) they get.

The first level of the Queensland courts system.

Most criminal cases are heard in these courts in some form and they impose sentences for the majority of offences (about 95 per cent).

A minimum or fixed penalty or penalty type set by Parliament in legislation.

The court has no discretion (no choice) to give a lesser or different type of sentence.

Learn more about mandatory penalties.

The highest penalty that can be given to a person convicted of a particular offence.

Learn more about maximum penalties.

A division of the Supreme Court that decides whether a defendant may have a defence to a criminal charge because of mental illness at the time of the alleged offence.

The court also determines whether a defendant is or is not fit for trial because of mental illness.

Less serious forms of criminal offences that are indictable offences.

A fact or detail about the offender or the offence that may reduce the severity of the sentence.

A special Magistrates Court that connects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants to cultural and support services. This can help them make changes in their lives and deal with the reasons for their offending.

Learn more about the Murri Court.

An order, in addition to another sentence, banning contact with the victim or another person, or going to or near a particular place, for a set period.

A sentencing order that is not served in custody and is not a sentence of imprisonment.

The period of time set by a court that a person must serve in prison before being released on parole or becoming eligible to apply for release on parole.

An act or omission that makes the person doing it liable to punishment.

There are 2 kinds of offences — criminal offences and regulatory offences.

A person who has been found guilty of an offence, or who has pleaded guilty to an offence.

An administrative fee imposed by Parliament to help pay for law enforcement and administration costs. The levy is paid to the court registry or the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).

The amount varies depending on whether the person is sentenced in the District or Supreme Courts, or by a Magistrates Court.

One levy is payable for each sentencing event.

Learn more about the offender levy.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions represents the State of Queensland in criminal cases; also referred to as the prosecution or the Crown.

There is a different Commonwealth version that prosecutes Commonwealth crimes.

Consistency of punishment for co-offenders in a case. This supports the principle of equality before the law.

This is a sentencing principle.

Supervised conditional release of a person from prison before the end of their prison sentence.

An offender released on parole is still serving their sentence. They have to follow the conditions of the parole order. These conditions are designed to help with their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community, and to reduce the chances the person will reoffend.

An independent statutory authority that decides applications for parole orders under the Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld), other than parole release dates ordered by courts (court ordered parole).

The Parole Board Queensland can also amend, suspend or cancel a parole order of a prisoner released on parole.

The earliest date on which a prisoner may be released on parole as decided by the Parole Board Queensland.

The date set by the court on which a prisoner must be released on parole (unless in custody for another reason).

A parole release date can only be set if certain criteria are met, such as the term of imprisonment is 3 years or less and not for a serious violent offence or a sexual offence.

A prisoner who has been released on parole.

Maximum fines are expressed as set numbers of penalty units. Each penalty unit is worth a set number of dollars and cents.

This can be adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. It allows all Queensland fines to change at the same time, in step with each other.

The response by the accused to a criminal charge — ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’.

A court decision that creates a legal principle to be followed in similar cases in the future.

This is also known as common law and case law.

Offences listed in legislation that require or are eligible for particular action by a court.

The time spent by an accused person in custody before their charges are dealt with. This happens if the person is not given bail.

Also referred to as remand.

If a period of imprisonment is later imposed, time spent in pre-sentence custody must generally be counted as part of the sentence, unless the court makes a different order.

A report prepared for a court with information about an offender and other matters, such as their suitability for certain types of orders, to help the court sentence the person.

These reports are usually written by corrective services officers and are in addition to other types of reports that may be given to the court, such as expert reports prepared by psychologists and psychiatrists.

An offender in prison serving a custodial sentence or a person held on remand who is waiting for trial or sentence.

An order between 6 months and 3 years served in the community with monitoring and supervision.

The principle that a sentence must be appropriate or proportionate to the seriousness of the crime.

This is a sentencing principle.

The police officer or lawyer who presents the case against an accused person for the State of Queensland or Commonwealth.

Also referred to as the Crown.

A non-custodial order in the form of a document that the offender signs, promising not to break the law for a set period. It can also set an amount of money that must be paid if they break the promise.

Also known as a good behaviour bond.

The process by which a person addresses their offending behaviour to live a productive and law-abiding life in the future. This involves working on the causes of their offending, such as getting help with an addiction to alcohol or other drugs, dealing with behavioural or health issues, improving family relationships, and healing from past trauma.

Rehabilitation is one of the 5 sentencing purposes in Queensland.

The time spent by an accused person in custody before their charges are dealt with. This happens if the person is not given bail.

See pre-sentence custody.

Less serious forms of offences that police can charge a person with instead of charging them with a criminal offence. For example, unauthorised dealing with shop goods (known as shoplifting) can be charged instead of stealing.

The person responding to a court application — for example, a domestic violence protection order application or an appeal of a court’s decision.

An order to restore property to its owner that has been taken or damaged when an offence is committed.

A very low-level sentence, not mentioned in legislation and technically classed as a form of imprisonment, that requires an offender to remain in the court room until the judge or magistrate adjourns the case (the ‘rising of the court’).

The penalty the court gives a person who has been found guilty of an offence.

The factors the court must take into account when sentencing.

Learn more about sentencing factors.

Principles developed under the common law and in legislation, that help judges and magistrates to reach a decision on the sentence to impose.

They include parity, proportionality, totality, and the De Simoni principle.

The legislated purposes for which a sentence may be imposed. In Queensland there are 5 sentencing purposes for the sentencing of adults: punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation, denunciation, and community protection (or a combination of these).

The reasons given by the judge or magistrate for the sentence imposed. These are generally delivered orally by the judge or magistrate (see ex tempore sentencing remarks), but can be transcribed (reproduced in writing). The sentencing judge may also prepare written remarks.

A declaration (statement) made by the Supreme or District Court for certain offences (called prescribed offences) that requires the offender to serve 80 per cent of the sentence (or 15 years, whichever is less) in prison before being eligible to apply for parole.

Learn about the serious violent offence scheme.

Refers to the basic version of an offence, with no circumstance of aggravation.

A specialist Magistrates Court dealing with domestic and family violence matters.

The level of certainty and degree of evidence needed to establish proof of an alleged fact.

Laws (legislation) made by Parliament, such as the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld).

Verbal comments made, and written documents provided, to the court by the prosecutor and the defence to support their case.

A trial in a Magistrates Court for summary offences and some indictable offences. There is no jury. The magistrate decides whether a person is guilty or not guilty and imposes any sentence.

Minor offences that generally must be prosecuted within 12 months of the offence taking place. They are heard in Magistrates Courts.

Also known as simple offences.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in Queensland. It consists of the trial division and the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court hears the most serious criminal cases, including murder, manslaughter and serious drug offences.

A person acts as a surety for an accused person if they agree to a bail condition that they will give up an amount of money if the accused person fails to appear in accordance with their bail undertaking.

A person can also act as a surety for an offender sentenced to a good behaviour bond or recognisance, by agreeing to pay a sum of money if the offender breaches that order.

A sentence of imprisonment of 5 years or less suspended in full (called a ‘wholly suspended sentence’) or in part (called a ‘partially suspended sentence’) for a set period (called an ‘operational period’) of up to 5 years.

If the offender commits another offence punishable by imprisonment during the operational period of the order, they must serve the whole period of imprisonment that was suspended, unless the court considers this would be unjust.

For example a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment suspended in full for 2 years means that the person must not commit another offence during the 2 year period. If they do, they risk having to serve 12 months in prison.

The principle that when an offender is convicted of more than one offence, the total sentence should reflect the overall criminality of the offending.

This is a sentencing principle.

A promise to the court to do or not do certain things. This will be in the form of a court order that the person signs. A common example is a bail undertaking.

A person who has suffered harm directly because of a criminal offence, or a family member or dependant of a person who has died or suffered harm because of a criminal offence.

A written statement made by a victim that states the harm the offence has caused them. It may include attachments such as medical reports, photographs, and drawings. A victim of crime may be invited to read the statement aloud in court.