Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Sentencing Act 1991 - SECT 6D

Factors relevant to length of prison sentence

6D. Factors relevant to length of prison sentence

If under section 5 the Supreme Court or the County Court in sentencing a
serious offender for a relevant offence considers that a sentence of
imprisonment is justified, the Court, in determining the length of that
sentence-

   (a)  must regard the protection of the community from the offender as the
        principal purpose for which the sentence is imposed; and

   (b)  may, in order to achieve that purpose, impose a sentence longer than
        that which is proportionate to the gravity of the offence considered
        in the light of its objective circumstances.