If you have been charged with an offence there are a range of sentencing options available to a Judge or Magistrate in criminal law.
Some of these criminal law sentences require you to have a Sentencing Assessment Report (‘SAR’) completed by Community Corrections.
What is a Sentencing Assessment Report?
A SAR is a document which assists the sentencing Court to determine what the appropriate sentence should be for your criminal law matter. This is a non-binding document that is produced by a Community Corrections Officer.
This report will outline a range of factors including your background, attitude toward the offending conduct, any remorse and contrition you have shown and Community Corrections’ assessment of your ‘risk of reoffending’.
The SAR will also determine if you require supervision or your ability to complete community service as part of your criminal law sentence.
When can a SAR be Ordered?
A Court will generally order a SAR if it is considering a Community Correction Order (‘CCO’) or an Intensive Correction Order (‘ICO’).
What is Community Corrections?
Community Corrections is a branch of the NSW Department of Justice. There are offices in many locations around NSW. Community Correction Officers’ duties include supervising people on CCOs and ICOs, supervision of parolees and assessing people for SARs.
I’ve Been Ordered to Complete a SAR, What Next?
If you have been ordered by a Court to complete a SAR you will need to report to your designated Community Correction office by the date specified by the Court. This is generally 7 days but can change depending on the Court. The Court will generally send you to a Community Correction office closest to you. It is best to call them first to organise an appropriate time to go in, depending on the office they may want you to come in person to make a time and then come back later.
What Offences Might Require A SAR?
Most criminal offences can result in a Court requiring a SAR before a Court will pass sentence. These include drink driving, assault, drug offences, theft offences, sexual assaults and even drive while disqualified. Generally, the overall offending conduct will be taken into account by the Court when deciding whether to order a SAR, not simply the offence alone. Another factor the Court will consider is any similar conduct in the accused’s history as well as their overall criminal and/or traffic history.
If you have been charged with a criminal law offence and you are concerned about your history or the seriousness of the offence, call Whitfield|Legal on 1300 818 626 for a free initial consult.
