ABORIGINAL LEGAL AID
FACT SHEET
SUSPENDED SENTENCES
What does it mean?
There are two types:
This means the Court lets you out of jail
if you promise to be good and stay out of
trouble AND do what the Court tells you
to do:
(1) Partially suspended
• If you keep all the promises you do not
have to go to jail
• If you break any of the promises you
will have to go to jail for the rest of
your sentence
You are not completely free. You are
only free if you keep your promises to the
Court.
You must serve some time in prison. The
rest of your prison term has been
“suspended” or “put on hold” only if you
stay out of trouble and keep all your
promises to the Court.
(2) Wholly or fully suspended
You don’t have to go to prison. Your full
prison term has been suspended only if
you stay out of trouble and keep all your
promises to the Court.
What are my promises?
IF YOU STAY OUT OF TROUBLE,
YOU WILL STAY OUT OF JAIL!
Your promises are conditions of your
suspended sentence. They might include:
What if I break my promise to the
Court?
• that you complete a drug and alcohol
rehabilitation course
If you get in more trouble or don’t stick to
your conditions, you will go back to Court
and will probably be sent to jail.
• that you call Corrections when you
leave your home
• that you do not drink grog
• that you do not live at a certain
address
If you think you might break your
conditions (Eg, to attend to sorry
business) call:
Corrections on Freecall 1800 030 334
or CAALAS on Freecall 1800 636 079
The Court might:
1.
Extend the operational period of your
sentence, meaning you have to be
good for longer;
2.
Remove the suspension and order
that you serve your full jail sentence;
or
3.
Remove part of the suspension and
order you serve some time in jail.
Example:
A young fella is sentenced to 4 months jail but it is fully suspended
for an “operational period” of 12 months. He is told that he cannot
drink grog and must sit down where Corrections mob tell him to
and not get into any trouble for 12 months (the operational period).
If he keeps these promises, he is free after 12 months is finished.
If he breaks any promise, the police can arrest him and he will have
to go back to Court and then may be sent to jail for 4 months.
IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND OR YOU
NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CONDITIONS
CALL A CAALAS LAWYER
ON 1800 636 079 STRAIGHT AWAY!
For questions and further information, contact CAALAS:
Freecall: 1800 636 079 (NT landline only) / During hours: (08) 8950 9300
Drop in: 55 Bath St Alice Springs or 68 Patterson St Tennant Creek or Court
Visit: www.caalas.com.au
Disclaimer: This content is current as at 23 February 2010. It is provided as an information source only and is not legal
advice. If you have a legal problem, you should call CAALAS and speak to a lawyer.