The five purposes of sentencing are set out in section 57 of the Sentencing Code. They are: the punishment of offenders; the reduction of crime (including its reduction by deterrence); the reform and rehabilitation of offenders; the protection of the public; and the making of reparation by offenders to persons affected by their offences. Courts are required to consider these statutory purposes when sentencing offenders aged 18 years and over.
	Amendments are made to section 57(2)(d) of the Sentencing Code to expressly refer to the need to protect victims of crime alongside the public.
Legal background Part 1: Sentencing Purposes of sentencing