NCJ Number
41886
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 95-108
Date Published
1976
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE SATURDAY WORK ORDER SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN TASMANIA IN 1972 AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CUSTODIAL TREATMENT TO BE OFFERED TO AN OFFENDER ONLY IF THE SENTENCE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN IMPRISONMENT.
Abstract
IN THE VERDICT, THE OFFENDER IS GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN A PRISON SENTENCE OF UNKNOWN LENGTH AND A SATURDAY WORK ORDER WHICH CANNOT EXCEED 25 SATURDAYS ON ANY ONE CHARGE. THE AUTHOR CONTESTS THE CLAIM THAT THE WORK ORDER SCHEME HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE PRISON POPULATION. ON THE BASIS OF AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATISTICAL DATA AVAILABLE, SHE CONCLUDES THAT THE WORK ORDER IN MANY CASES HAS BEEN GIVEN TO OFFENDERS WHO WOULD NOT, PRIOR TO THE LEGISLATION, HAVE RECEIVED A PRISON SENTENCE, AND, THEREFORE, APPEARS TO REPLACE FINES AND GOOD BEHAVIOR BONDS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EITHER THE ACT BE CHANGED TO ALLOW JUDGES TO OFFER WORK ORDERS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A BOND, PROBATION, OR A FINE (AS WELL AS IMPRISONMENT) THEREBY ENABLING THE OFFENDER TO MAKE A REAL CHOICE OR AN EFFORT BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW IS ADHERED TO....ELW