Number 13 — Sentencing deception offenders: Part 1 — Local Courts

Sentencing deception offenders: Part 1 — Local Courts

There is a perception in the community that offences involving deception are on the increase. Such crimes are viewed as insidious; there is no physical harm or violence to victims, but the cost to the community can be measured in millions of dollars. This paper describes the characteristics associated with deception offences dealt with in the Local Courts, and examines the sentencing of such offenders. This group includes white collar criminals, forgers, utterers, social security and insurance cheats as well as old-fashioned 'confidence tricksters'. Also included is the growing area of computer crime. This paper, focusing on the Local Courts, is the first of a two-part report on deception offences. Part 2 will examine deception offences dealt with in the higher courts. It is hoped that this report will provide judicial officers with a number of useful insights into the sentencing of such offenders.