Project No. 47

Commenced: 1973
Withdrawn: 1982

In 1979 a Committee of Inquiry was appointed by Cabinet to consider whether the rate of imprisonment in Western Australia, particularly for non-indictable offences, could be reduced. The report of the Committee of Inquiry was delivered in May 1981. The report contained a number of recommendations including several suggested measures in relation to the jailing of first offenders. In particular, the Committee of Inquiry recommended that the Courts of Petty Sessions should consider very carefully the use of imprisonment as an option and that, where possible, alternative forms of punishment should be used. In relation to first offenders the Committee of Inquiry recommended that pre-sentence reports should be submitted to the court as a measure aimed at possibly reducing the rate of imprisonment for first offenders.