Community Views on Rape and Sexual Assault Sentencing

The research project sought to gather community views on the sentencing of rape and sexual assault offences. Specifically, the project investigated how the community views the importance of just punishment, denunciation and community protection as sentencing purposes for sexual assault and rape offences; and how the community ranks the seriousness of sexual assault and rape offences compared to other offences committed in Queensland. Using focus groups, researchers spoke to adult community members across Queensland from metropolitan, regional and rural areas to determine their views about sentencing for sexual violence offences.