Criminal Penalties - Term of Imprisonment

A term of imprisonment which is also called a gaol term or prison term can be imposed up to the maximum the Act provides. For common law offences it is harder to find the applicable maximum but go to our A -Z of offences and start from there.

A Judge or Magistrate can impose a term of imprisonment with or without a non-parole period. What a non-parole period means is a period of time before which the Parole Board can consider releasing you. So if they give you two years imprisonment with a one year non-parole period that would mean that you serve one year in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

The Judge or Magistrate can also just give you a straight period of imprisonment.

For example they could imprison you for 6 months and that would mean you would serve a total of 6 months in prison immediately (subject to appeal bail etc).

To ensure that you receive the lowest possible penalty, contact Doogue & O'Brien on 03 9670 5111.

Level 5/221 Queen St Melbourne, Victoria (03) 9670 5111
Broadmeadows (03) 9351 1455       Heidelberg (03) 9458 3700