Judges apply several other principles in deciding what is an appropriate sentence. There is a principle where all other things being equal, two persons equally involved in the commission of the same offence will be dealt with similarly. For offenders who have committed more than one offence, the courts calculate whether the sentence should be concurrent or cumulative, or a mixture of both. Courts also need to consider what conditions should be attached to parole. Parole is a valuable rehabilitation tool as it helps a person to readjust to the community and ensures continuing supervision and support.
Judges are accountable for their decisions through an appeal process.
If an offender believes a sentence is too harsh, he or she may appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal. If the independent Director of Public Prosecutions thinks a sentence is inadequate, he can also appeal ask the appeal court to consider increasing the penalty. These are just some of the checks and balances that make a justice system strong. While not everyone will agree all the time with particular decisions, we should be satisfied that basic principles of law have been impartially and fairly applied. 170 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.