The Tasmanian Sentencing Advisory Council has released its report Non Conviction Sentences ‘Not Recording a Conviction as a Sentencing Option’, commissioned by the previous government.
In Tasmania, magistrates can find a person guilty but not record a conviction, but cannot impose a fine without recording a conviction.
The Report contains 36 recommendations, and primarily recommends that not recording a conviction should continue to be a sentencing option under the Sentencing Act 1997.
The Council also recommends the Sentencing Act be amended to allow for a fine to be imposed without a conviction being recorded.
The Government is supportive of new sentencing options and increased flexibility in sentencing. We will carefully consider the recommendations outlined in the report.
The addition of a sentencing option to impose a fine without conviction will be examined further in the context of the Government’s plan to phase out suspended sentences and introduce a range of alternative sentencing options.
Vanessa Goodwin, Attorney-General
