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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (7 March) . . Page.. 651 ..
MR HIRD (continuing):
Chief Minister and Attorney-General for the Northern Territory, and the rationale behind the introduction of mandatory sentencing in that Territory. It goes into detail about juveniles aged 15 and 16 years, burglary and stealing, car thefts and property damage. On the first occasion, the result is police caution; on the second occasion, court; on the third occasion, court; and on the fourth occasion, court.
His statement then goes further to discuss adults aged 17 and over. A first offence results in 14 days and court; a second offence, 90 days and court; and the third offence results in 12 months. Mr Burke says:
The controversy over mandatory minimum sentencing in the Northern Territory has some people believing offenders are imprisoned on their first brush with the law. This is not true.
He continues:
Juveniles are not incarcerated for a single housebreaking or stealing offence - only after they have established a pattern of criminal behaviour and offer no remorse or regard for the rights of their victims.
Adults do face gaol on their first offence, but criminal history incurred as a juvenile does not count for the purpose of mandatory sentencing. Even adults can escape imprisonment under "exceptional circumstances" provisions.
This is how this aspect of the NT justice system works. Mandatory Sentencing is only one of the ways the Government tackles law and order issues.
This extract balances the view on mandatory sentencing and gives the Chief Minister's view. I now seek leave to table the document.
Leave granted.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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