Source: The Advocate A LIBERAL state government would phase out suspended sentences in an effort to make the community feel safer. No suspended sentences would be given in Tasmanian courts after the Liberals' first term, even if the legal system thought it was in the best interests of society and the offender. The problem with suspended sentences is they are perceived to be a non-punishment, shadow attorney general Vanessa Goodwin said. ``We make no apologies for being tough on crime,'' Ms Goodwin said. ``I think it's in the best interest of the offender to not reoffend.'' The sentencing options available to the courts were limited and more were needed, Ms Goodwin said. She referred to a 2008 report from the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI) that says in the 2003-2004 financial year, 60 per cent of prison sentences were wholly suspended. However, the same report said the TLRI found no evidence suspended sentences were overused or used inappropriately. ``[The TLRI] does not recommend that length-based or offence-based restrictions be imposed on the power to order suspended sentences,'' the report said. To ease the community's concerns about offenders getting off lightly, alternatives for suspended sentences might include home detention, periodic detention (on weekends), intensive correction or supervision and additional problem solving or therapeutic alternatives, which could be tweaked to suit an offender's needs. Ms Goodwin said an elected Liberal government would consider these options and others, but did not say how a Liberal government would pay for the potentially expensive measures, like more jail time. Phasing out suspended sentences in Victoria and New Zealand had coincided with lower rates of property crime, rape and robbery, Ms Goodwin said.
A LIBERAL state government would phase out suspended sentences in an effort to make the community feel safer.
No suspended sentences would be given in Tasmanian courts after the Liberals' first term, even if the legal system thought it was in the best interests of society and the offender.
The problem with suspended sentences is they are perceived to be a non-punishment, shadow attorney general Vanessa Goodwin said.
``We make no apologies for being tough on crime,'' Ms Goodwin said.
``I think it's in the best interest of the offender to not reoffend.''
The sentencing options available to the courts were limited and more were needed, Ms Goodwin said.
She referred to a 2008 report from the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI) that says in the 2003-2004 financial year, 60 per cent of prison sentences were wholly suspended.
However, the same report said the TLRI found no evidence suspended sentences were overused or used inappropriately.
``[The TLRI] does not recommend that length-based or offence-based restrictions be imposed on the power to order suspended sentences,'' the report said.
To ease the community's concerns about offenders getting off lightly, alternatives for suspended sentences might include home detention, periodic detention (on weekends), intensive correction or supervision and additional problem solving or therapeutic alternatives, which could be tweaked to suit an offender's needs.
Ms Goodwin said an elected Liberal government would consider these options and others, but did not say how a Liberal government would pay for the potentially expensive measures, like more jail time.
Phasing out suspended sentences in Victoria and New Zealand had coincided with lower rates of property crime, rape and robbery, Ms Goodwin said.
