-
ACT Articles
-
National Articles
-
NSW Articles
-
QLD Articles
-
VIC Articles
-
WA Articles
I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My whole life I was thrown away, you made me feel like I did mean something. I could not have asked for a better lawyer. Your compassion and love for your job is inspiring. Your upfront and honesty were muchly appreciated, you are a beautiful person. Thank you for not giving up on me and thank you for all the work you put in. I wish you all the best for the future and I will be recommending you to everyone I know. You're amazing!!!!
- Client
I just wanted to thank you for representing me on Monday, I was overjoyed & relieved with the outcome. I don’t think it could have gone any better. All the best, I hope you got to celebrate this one instead after work, you forever made a difference in my life.
-
I know I thanked you before we parted company but please allow me to reiterate in writing my sincere deepest thanks for defending me in court today. … Armstrong Legal certainly has a great Lawyer you are a credit to the company and I'm quite sure you will secure a very successful future! … My Kindest Regards and Thanks
- Client
Throughout Angela has been the consummate professional. She maintained a calm, yet strong demeanour remained informative and completely open in her communication and took complete ownership of the situation. We felt confident we finally had an advocate to steer us out of the nightmare we were in, and she did so with great respect and sincerity. I cannot speak more highly of Angela. She has literally rescued our family from what looked very much like a hopeless future.
- Client
Words can’t describe how grateful I am to Trudie Cameron being my solicitor and to Andrew Tiedt presenting my case in the court. They both have been very supportive and amazingly professional and effective. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic outcome I couldn’t even dream about.
- Client
Soon after meeting Andrew I knew he was the solicitor I wanted to handle my matter. He immediately sprang into action which brought me stability and hope during a tumultuous time in my life. Andrew was never afraid to give me straight answers to my tough questions which is a true mark of integrity. He is clearly at ease in the court environment and I believe his calm and measured demeanour went a long way to helping me secure the best result from my day in court. I would certainly recommend you approach Andrew if you need assistance.
- Client
"Andrew Tiedt was very professional and considerate to personal circumstances and gave sound advice that resulted in the best outcome possible. Highly recommended."
-

This article was written by Deike Kemper - Associate - Melbourne
Deike Kemper holds a Juris Doctor (Master of Laws degree) from Monash University, a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law and a Graduate Certificate of Forensic Psychology from Curtin University. She is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia. Deike’s main area of practice is criminal law. She...
Rehabilitation and Sentencing (Vic)
The Victorian Sentencing Act 1991 sets out the purposes for which courts may make sentencing orders. These are deterrence, community protection, denunciation, punishment and rehabilitation. These are the only purposes for which courts are permitted to make sentencing orders, such as fines, imprisonment and community-based orders. Different sentencing purposes have different levels of importance and relevance in each individual case, depending on the circumstances of the offender and of the offending. This article discusses the sentencing purpose of rehabilitation.
What is rehabilitation?
Section 1(d)(ii) of the Sentencing Act specifies that one purpose for which a sentence can be imposed is to facilitate the rehabilitation of offenders. This purpose refers to the goal of treating any underlying causes of offending behaviours, in particular, drug and alcohol misuse but can also focus on violent offending behaviour courses such as the Men’s Behaviour Change Program or anger management counselling. Any imposed sentence could include orders which direct an accused to perform certain courses, programs or simply attend upon their medical professional for counselling or treatment, as is suitable in the specific circumstances of the matter.
A term of imprisonment can also have rehabilitative purposes, especially in relation to drugs and alcohol, as it can be used as a detox. A number of rehabilitative programs are also generally offered in custody, enabling a term of imprisonment to satisfy the rehabilitative sentencing purpose.
Any sentence imposed will ultimately turn on the circumstances of the offending but also the personal circumstances of the accused, which become specifically relevant when considering the purpose of rehabilitation. A rehabilitation-focused sentence seeks to ensure that the offender is given support and education to enable him to be crime-free in future.
Young offenders and rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is a sentencing purpose that must be considered for all offenders. However, in the Children’s Court and when dealing with young offenders in the adult courts, rehabilitation is generally required to be the primary sentencing purpose (Herald and Weekly Times Pty Ltd v AB [2008] VChC 3, [24]; R v Evans [2003] VSCA 223, [44]). This is because young offenders are generally considered as being more able to be reformed, due to their character still developing. As such they are generally not used to communicate general deterrence and denunciation, though these sentencing purposes must still be addressed as well.
Repeat offenders and rehabilitation
It should be noted that while rehabilitation is given special weight when dealing with young offenders, it can also be a relevant sentencing purpose when the offender is of an advanced age, and when he or she has a significant prior criminal history.
As Martin J in the 1992 decision of Bamaga v Trenerry said, however, “If those with a bad record feel that there is no benefit from attempts at rehabilitation then why should they bother? It is in the interests of the community that rehabilitation be encouraged”
Accordingly, even adult offenders with a lengthy criminal history, still need to be given sentences which support and encourage rehabilitation, if it is determined by the court that such is possible.
If an offender can show, prior to coming before the court for a plea hearing, that they have attempted to rehabilitate and even started the process, this will be given significant weight and increase prospects of receiving a rehabilitation focused sentence, as opposed to one focusing on punishment. Such positive and proactive steps also show a significant degree of insight and remorse, which can reduce the weight a court feels obligated to give towards sentencing purposes such as specific deterrence and punishment.
What steps must be taken?
The nature of rehabilitative steps that should be taken, depends significantly on the nature of the offending. For that reason, it is strongly advised that legal advice is obtained before entering a plea of guilty, as we have extensive experience and knowledge of programs/courses which the courts regularly use to drive rehabilitation. Engaging in these programs/courses before the course orders such engagement is considered significantly mitigating and may assist in avoiding a term of imprisonment.
It is important to understand that rehabilitation does not only apply to those with mental impairments or illnesses, or as one might ordinarily presume, only those with drug and alcohol addictions. As Chief Justice King stated in Vartzokas v Zanker (1989) rehabilitation applies “to those who, while not suffering such disadvantages, nevertheless lapse into wrongdoing”.
So irrespective of what you are charged with and what led you to offend, chances are there are some courses/programs or counselling available that could address the underlying factors that led to the offences being committed. As such, it is always advised that upon having been charged with any offence, an accused attend upon their GP to discuss their situation. Following any commission of criminal offences it is always advisable to meet with your local medical practitioner (GP) and speak with them about whether there are any rehabilitative steps you can take, even if this is limited to counselling to assist you in dealing with the court process.
Notably, also as stated by Justice Murphy in Boulton, Clements v Fitzgerald (2014):
“it would be wrong […] to impose a sentence of imprisonment upon an offender which is dictated not by the gravity or heinousness of the crimes committed, but by the […] desire to cure the offender of some disease such as drug addiction.”
In imposing any sentence, even for the purpose of rehabilitation, the court must not impose a sentence of a “longer duration, or to attach more onerous treatment and rehabilitation conditions, if the resulting order would be disproportionate to the gravity of the offending”.
If you require legal advice or representation in any legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.
A judge or magistrate can choose not to record a conviction when sentencing an offender in Victoria. The decision will…
When a person is sentenced for an offence in Victoria, a court can also make a compensation order against an…
WHERE TO NEXT?
If you suspect that you may be under investigation, or if you have been charged with an offence, it is vital to get competent legal advice as early as possible. Our lawyers are highly specialised in criminal law and will be able to guide you through the process while dealing with the various authorities related to your matter.
WHY CHOOSE ARMSTRONG LEGAL?
Sydney Office
Level 35
201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Melbourne Office
Level 13
575 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Brisbane Office
Level 5
91 North Quay
Brisbane QLD 4000
Canberra Office
Suite 2, Level 6
17-21 University Avenue
Canberra ACT 2601
Perth Office
Suite 207
22 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000