New South Wales Abolishes 'Good Character' in Sentencing

Australia===New South Wales is set to become the first Australian state to completely abolish 'good character' evidence as a mitigating factor in all criminal sentencing proceedings. The Minns government will introduce legislation next week, following recommendations from the Australia===New South Wales Sentencing Council and extensive advocacy from groups like Your Reference Ain t Relevant, co-founded by Harry James (disambiguation) and Jarad Grice. This reform aims to prevent re-traumatization of victim-survivors, particularly in cases of child sexual abuse, and address concerns that 'good character' evidence disproportionately benefits wealthy and influential offenders. While other mitigating factors like rehabilitation prospects and lack of previous convictions will still be considered, the blanket ban on 'good character' references marks a significant overhaul of the criminal justice system in Australia===New South Wales. Attorney-General Michael Daley stated that the reform is about fairness and ensuring no offender can rely on their reputation to minimize culpability.