New South Wales Sentencing Council - Composition

Composition

The council was initially composed of ten members who were to be appointed by the attorney general. Members could be appointed for a three-year term, and could also be appointed for further three-year terms from time to time. The attorney general also had the authority to appoint deputies to the members, so that the deputy could attend the council in the absence of the member.

Members include:

  • a retired judicial officer,
  • a person with expertise or experience in law enforcement,
  • various persons who have expertise or experience in criminal law or sentencing,
  • a person who has expertise or experience in the area of prosecution
  • a person who has expertise or experience in the area of defence
  • a person who has expertise or experience in Aboriginal justice matters
  • four are to be persons representing the general community, of whom two are to have expertise or experience in matters associated with victims of crime.

The inaugural members of the NSW Sentencing Council were:

  • The Honourable A R Abadee RFD QC - Chair
  • Mrs Jennifer Fullford - Community Representative
  • Ms Martha Jabour - Community Representative (Homicide Victims Support Group)
  • Mr N R Cowdrey QC - Director of Public Prosecutions
  • Mr Peter Zahra SC - Senior Public Defender
  • Hon J P Slattery AO QC - NSW Bar Association
  • Commander John Laycock - NSW Police
  • Prof Larissa Behrendt - Aboriginal Justice Representative (Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning)
  • Mr Howard W Brown - Community Representative (Victims of Crime Assistance League, NSW Victims Advisory Board)
  • Mr Ken Marslew AM - Community Representative (Enough is Enough)

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The legislation was changed in 2006 to expand the number of members of the council to thirteen. All members and deputy members continue to be appointed by the attorney general. The current members are:

  • The Hon James Roland Wood AO QC (Chairperson)
  • The Hon J P Slattery AO QC (Deputy Chairperson)
  • Mr Howard W Brown OAM (Victims of Crime Assistance League)
  • Mr N R Cowdery AM QC (NSW Director of Public Prosecutions)
  • Assistant Commissioner Chris Evans APM (NSW Police)
  • Mrs Jennifer Fullford (Community Representative)
  • Ms Martha Jabour (Homicide Victims Support Group)
  • Mr Norman Laing (Barrister; Representative with expertise in Aboriginal justice matters)
  • Mr Ken Marslew AM (Enough is Enough Anti-Violence Movement)
  • Mr Peter Zahra SC (Senior Public Defender).

Read more about this topic:  New South Wales Sentencing Council

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