Abstract
Some ranking of the relative seriousness of criminal conduct for the purpose of allocating statutory penalties is needed. A number of different approaches are possible. This article examines those based on assessments of harm and culpability; analysis of current judicial sentencing practices; and public opinion research. It discusses problems inherent in each of these approaches. A combination of techniques is applied to some 500 Victorian offences, both serious and trivial, in order to produce a revised ranking of statutory offences for the purpose of rationalising their accompanying sanctions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 165-191 |
| Number of pages | 27 |
| Journal | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 1990 |
