Community orders
New changes in place
The Sentencing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 has now passed.
It includes changes to sentencing for certain offences.
Read more on the Department of Attorney-General and Justice website.
A community order sentences an offender to take part in rehabilitation programs, medical treatment or unpaid community work for up to 2 years.
Depending on what type of order, they must also follow other certain conditions.
These conditions may include:
- supervision from a probation and parole officer including visits
- electronic monitoring
- drug and alcohol testing
- a curfew.
This does not apply to youths.
At any time, the offender can apply to get their order withdrawn and get another penalty. To arrange this, they should contact their lawyer.
Types of orders
The following orders may apply to offenders sentenced:
- before 25 March 2024:
- community-based order
- community custody order
- community work order
- good behaviour order
- home detention order
- after 25 March 2024:
- community correction order - non-custodial alternative to imprisonment
- intensive community correction order - custodial order for serious offences and supervision required.
Requirements after sentencing
After sentencing, the court will provide a copy of the order which will outline the conditions.
Within 2 working days, the offender must report to the Community Corrections office named on their order.
When they report to the office, they may be assigned a probation and parole officer, who will:
- explain the order and the conditions they must follow
- provide details of any programs, counselling or community work they must complete
- help with developing a plan to follow the conditions of their order.
What they can't do while on the order
An offender must not:
- break the law or the conditions their order
- leave the Northern Territory without permission from their probation and parole officer
If a condition is breached
If an offender doesn’t follow the conditions of their order, their probation and parole officer will investigate what’s happened.
The person may have to return to court to explain their actions.
If they must go back to court, they should talk to their lawyer to understand the process and what to expect.
If offender can’t attend community work
If an offender can’t attend community work, a program or an appointment, they must notify their probation and parole officer immediately.
They will have to provide evidence such as a medical certificate or letter from their employer.
Information in different languages
You can also watch videos of this information in the following languages:
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