Foundations of Sentencing Practice

Sentencing sits at the centre of criminal justice, requiring courts to balance competing purposes including punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation, denunciation, community protection, and proportionality. It is also one of the most dynamic and scrutinised areas of law, continually shaped by legislative reform, appellate authority, and shifting public expectations.

“Foundations of Sentencing Practice” provides a structured introduction to sentencing principles and their application in real-world legal decision-making. The session explores how sentencing frameworks operate in practice, the policy considerations that influence reform, and the tensions that arise when courts are required to individualise justice within increasingly complex statutory environments.

Designed for practitioners and justice system professionals, this webinar builds both doctrinal understanding and practical advocacy skills. Participants will gain insight into sentencing submissions, key principles such as totality and parsimony, and the broader forces shaping sentencing reform and judicial discretion.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Structure and operation of sentencing frameworks
• Stakeholders in the sentencing process
• Purposes of sentencing: punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation, denunciation, protection
• Key sentencing challenges across modern justice systems
• Principles of proportionality, totality, and parsimony
• Judicial discretion and appellate guidance
• Legislative developments and sentencing reform trends
• Balancing individual circumstances with public interest
• Sentencing submissions and advocacy considerations
• Evolving policy debates in criminal justice sentencing