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Sentencing Act 2002

Sentences, orders, and related matters - Community-based sentences - Community work

55: Sentence of community work

You could also call this:

"Helping the community as a punishment for a crime"

Illustration for Sentencing Act 2002

If you commit a crime, a court can sentence you to community work. This can happen if you are found guilty of a crime that could send you to prison, or if the law says that a community-based sentence or home detention is possible for that crime. You will have to work for a certain number of hours, between 40 and 400, which the court decides is fair. This rule is also affected by what is said in sections 56 and 57.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM136044.

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Part 2Sentences, orders, and related matters
Community-based sentences: Community work

55Sentence of community work

  1. A court may sentence an offender to community work—

  2. if the offender is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment; or
    1. if the offender is convicted of an offence and the enactment prescribing the offence expressly provides that a sentence of home detention may be imposed on conviction; or
      1. if the offender is convicted of an offence and the enactment prescribing the offence expressly provides that a community-based sentence may be imposed on conviction.

        1. The sentence may be for the number of hours, being not less than 40 or more than 400, that the court thinks fit.

        2. This section is subject to sections 56 and 57.

        Notes
        • Section 55(1)(ab): inserted, on , by section 25 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).