When a court sentences a person in New South Wales, it works within the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) (the Act). The Act sets out why courts sentence, what options they can use, and the key rules that shape the outcome. If you want practical advice on sentencing strategy, talk to Pannu Lawyers. Pannu Lawyers appears in court every day and understands what actually moves the needle at sentence. (Hint: it is not “I am
really sorry, Your Honour” with no evidence behind it.)

The sentencing framework courts use

1. The purposes of sentencing

Courts sentence for specific purposes, including punishment, deterrence, community protection, rehabilitation, accountability, denunciation, and recognising harm to victims and the community.

2. Prison sits at the top, and courts must treat it as a last resort

A court must not send someone to prison unless it has considered all possible alternatives and
decided that only imprisonment fits.

3. Courts weigh aggravating and mitigating factors

The Act requires courts to take into account relevant aggravating factors, mitigating factors, and any other objective or subjective factors that affect seriousness. This is where preparation matters. Pannu Lawyers focuses on what the court can rely on, not what sounds nice and written by AI.

The main sentencing options in NSW

Sentencing options usually range from least severe to most severe. What fits depends on the
offence, the facts, your history, and the sentencing purposes.

1. Section 10 outcomes, dismissal or conditional discharge without conviction

If the court finds a person guilty, it can still deal with the matter without recording a conviction by making a dismissal, a conditional release order without conviction, or an intervention program order. A section 10 outcome can protect someone from a criminal conviction, however the court only uses it when the circumstances justify it.

2. Conviction with no other penalty

The court can record a conviction and impose no further penalty.

3. Conditional Release Order (CRO)

A CRO can operate as an alternative to imprisonment or a fine, depending on how the court deals with the conviction and section 10. The maximum term of a CRO is 2 years. CROs carry standard conditions, including not committing an offence and appearing if called up by the court, and the court can add extra conditions like treatment or non association.

4. Community Correction Order (CCO)

A CCO provides an alternative to imprisonment after conviction. The maximum term of a CCO is 3 years. A CCO includes standard conditions and can include additional conditions such as community service work, treatment, abstention, place restrictions, and supervision.

5. Intensive Correction Order (ICO)

An ICO is a sentence of imprisonment served in the community under strict conditions. The court can only make an ICO after it sentences a person to imprisonment. Eligibility limits apply. For example, an ICO cannot apply to a single offence if the term exceeds 2 years, and it cannot apply to an aggregate term exceeding 3 years.

6. Full time imprisonment

When alternatives do not fit, the court can impose full time detention. The Act still forces the court to confront the “last resort” rule when it chooses prison.

What actually influences the sentencing outcome

• The objective seriousness of the offence.
• Your criminal history, or lack of it.
• Evidence of rehabilitation, counselling, programs, stable work, and a realistic plan.
• Remorse backed by action, not speeches written by AI.
• Risk management, especially in domestic violence matters where the Act requires the
  court to focus on victim safety when considering certain options.

This is why people hunt for the best criminal lawyers. They want someone who can build the material a magistrate or judge can actually use.

Why getting advice early matters ?

Many clients only think about sentencing after a guilty plea. That timing hurts. Early advice can shape the charge pathway, the evidence gathered for subjective case, and the options your lawyer can push at sentence.

If you are looking for the best criminal lawyers, start with a firm that understands sentencing law and court practice, not just the words in the Act. Pannu Lawyers can advise on realistic sentencing ranges, the strongest option to seek, and the evidence you need to support it. Pannu Lawyers also prepares persuasive sentencing material that lines up with the statutory purposes and the aggravating and mitigating factors the court must consider.

People searching for the best criminal lawyers also want straight answers. Pannu Lawyers gives them, including when the court will likely reject a section 10 outcome and why.

Talk to Pannu Lawyers

If you face sentencing in NSW, get advice from Pannu Lawyers. Whether you want a section 10 outcome, a CRO, a CCO, or you need to fight an ICO or full-time imprisonment, Pannu Lawyers can map a strategy that matches the law and the courtroom reality.

If you are comparing firms and you keep typing “best criminal lawyers” into Google, here is the blunt truth. The best criminal lawyers prepare early, gather evidence that matters, and present it in a way that fits the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW). That is exactly what Pannu Lawyers does.

General information only, not legal advice. Get advice for your specific case.