Are Courts soft on crime? Lessons from the Victorian Jury Sentencing Study

Sentencing and related issues frequently make news headlines and can be politically controversial. In particular there is often a perception that some sentences handed down by judges are lenient and are not representative of community views.

The Victorian Jury Sentencing Study, led by Her Excellency the Honourable Professor Kate Warner AC, took a closer look at the differences between judges’ and juries’ sentences.