CRIMES (SENTENCING PROCEDURE) ACT 1999 - SECT 25F Other provisions applying to sentencing discount

CRIMES (SENTENCING PROCEDURE) ACT 1999 - SECT 25F

25F Other provisions applying to sentencing discount

(1) Application This section applies to a sentencing discount under this Division.

(2) Exception to application of discount--level of culpability The court may determine not to apply the sentencing discount, or to apply a reduced sentencing discount, if the court determines, on its own motion or on the application of the prosecution, that the discount should not be applied or should be reduced because the level of culpability in the commission of the offence is so extreme that the community interest in retribution, punishment, community protection and deterrence can be met only by imposition of a penalty with no allowance for, or a reduction of, that discount.

(3) If a case conference certificate was filed in committal proceedings for the offence, a prosecutor is not entitled to apply to the court for a determination that the discount should not be applied or should be reduced unless the certificate records that the prosecutor notified the offender's legal representative, at or before the conference, of the intention to make the application.

(4) Exception to application of discount--disputed facts The court may determine not to apply the sentencing discount, or to apply a reduced sentencing discount, if the court determines that the discount should not be applied or should be reduced because the utilitarian value of the plea of guilty has been eroded by a dispute as to facts that was not determined in favour of the offender.

(5) Offender to establish grounds for discount The burden of establishing that grounds exist for the sentencing discount lies on the offender and must be proved on the balance of probabilities.

(6) Application to Drug Court proceedings The sentencing discount applicable to a person who is sentenced for an offence under the Drug Court Act 1998 applies to a person who indicates an intention to plead guilty to an offence before being referred to the Drug Court, and who subsequently pleads guilty to the offence before the Drug Court, as if the person had pleaded guilty to the offence before being committed for sentence in committal proceedings for the offence.

(7) Discount information to be given to offender by court The court must indicate the following to the offender when passing sentence for an offence and must record the matters indicated--

(a) if the sentencing discount is applied, how the sentence imposed was calculated,

(b) if the court determines in accordance with this section not to apply or to reduce the discount, the reasons for the determination.

(8) Sentence not invalidated by failure to comply The failure by a court to comply with this Division does not invalidate any sentence imposed by the court.

(9) No discount where life sentence A sentencing court must not allow any discount under this Division for a guilty plea if the court determines a sentence of life imprisonment.