Will tougher sentences prevent violent home invasions?

/

The Liberal party today announced their intention to introduce legislation to parliament to toughen the penalties for serious home invasions.

The announcement comes as a state election looms in March, and the Liberal party is hoping people will see them as the party that will keep them safer.

There's no question that the community wants to see violent offenders punished properly, but the question remains whether such measures will  do anything to prevent the crimes in the first instance, and how far they will go toward rehabilitating offenders and preventing re-offence.

Full media release below.

Toughest penalties in Australia for home invasions

  • Liberal Government will introduce tough new mandatory minimum jail terms for any adult offender who commits serious physical or sexual assault during burglary
  • Liberal Government will also close three strikes burglary loophole 
  • Harsher penalties will get criminals off our streets
  • It will act as deterrent for future offending
  • Liberal Government will make your community safer

A Liberal Government will introduce legislation to tighten mandatory sentencing laws for serial burglars and impose the toughest penalties in Australia for serious home invasions.

Premier Colin Barnett said people in Geraldton were entitled to feel safe in their own homes.

“We are determined to crack down on those serious and serial offenders who cause untold fear to home owners,” he said.

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said the Geraldton community is entitled to see these offenders punished and punished appropriately.

“A Liberal Government will introduce legislation mandating a minimum jail term of 75% of the maximum available for an adult offender who commits serious physical or sexual assaults in the course of a home invasion,” Mr Blayney said. 

This means:

  • An offender who breaks into a house and violently rapes someone will face a minimum of 15 years jail
  • An offender who breaks into a house and seriously physically assaults someone will face a minimum of 7 years, 6 months jail