NSW Government launches public forums on crime and sentencing

18/02/2009

The New South Wales Government has launched a series of public forums on sentencing. A study by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research and the NSW Sentencing Council released last year found a large proportion of people were mistaken in their views about crime rates, the proportion of violent crime and the proportion of offenders convicted and imprisoned.

“Those people who had the worst knowledge of the criminal justice system also had the least confidence in the system,” Attorney General Hatzistergos said.

The first sentencing information forum, to be led by the chairman of the NSW Parole Board and former NSW chief magistrate, Ian Pike AM, would be held in Parramatta on 7 April, with further forums to follow.

The Law Society of NSW has issued a media release supporting the move.

**18 February 2009 **