We have created this pathway to help you understand how sentencing works in Queensland. We aim to explain things clearly and compassionately, recognising that you may be dealing with shock, grief, anger, or distress. You are welcome to move through the information at your own pace and take breaks whenever you need to.

Please note: This pathway helps you understand what typically happens in sentencing once someone has been found guilty of a violent crime against you. It will not be about the specific crime that happened to you. For example, some of the steps in this pathway may not apply if you are the victim of a property crime.

Different laws also apply to sentencing some types of offences in Queensland. These include sexual offences against children, drug offences and serious violent offences. The judge must follow these laws when sentencing these offences that may not be reflected in this pathway. You can read more about these in the Queensland Sentencing Guide.

How the pathway is structured

The pathway has two stages.

Stage 1 gives a general introduction to how sentencing works.

Stage 2 goes into detail about different types of sentences. Here, you will follow the pathway that is relevant to your own circumstances. For example, if the person who harmed you is given a custodial (prison) sentence, you will follow the ‘custodial (prison) sentences’ path.

Navigating through the pathway

Click on the options on the screen or press the "Next Step" button to move forward. The progress bar at the top will always show you where you are. If you want to review a step you have already finished, just click on it to go back up and read it again.

You can also use this product with a support person or with someone that you trust, who can help you read through it.

Definitions

Legal terms can be confusing. We have highlighted specific terms the first time they appear. You can click or hover on these to see a clear explanation of what they mean in plain English. Later in the pathway, they will be underlined so you can easily spot and click them again if you need a quick refresher.

Additional information panel

As you move from step to step, the side panel will show relevant resources and support services. If you are using a mobile phone, tap the information button to open this panel, and tap the close button to return to the main text.

Print/Save pathway

You can print your pathway or save it as a PDF. At the end of your pathway, click "Print pathway" to open a page showing your specific steps. From there, you can print it out on paper or select "Save as PDF" to create a new PDF directly on your device.

Please note, you cannot save your journey to come back to it later.

Quick exit

This website has a Quick Exit button which you can use at any time if you need to leave the site quickly.

These six short videos from the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council explain sentencing and related topics. Watching them is optional, but they may help you build your understanding before or while completing this pathway.

• Sentencing
• Bail
• Conditional Release Order
• Probation
• Remand
• Suspended Sentences