What is a Community Corrections Order (CCO)?

A Community Corrections Order (CCO) is a sentence that allows you to remain in the community instead of serving a term of imprisonment, provided you comply with conditions imposed by the court.

For many people, a CCO is an opportunity to demonstrate that they can address the issues that contributed to their offending while continuing to work, support their family and maintain their normal routine.

What conditions can a CCO include?

Every Community Corrections Order is different. The court will tailor the conditions to your individual circumstances and the nature of the offending.

Conditions may include:

• Reporting to a Community Corrections Officer

• Regular supervision appointments

• Community work

• Drug and alcohol treatment

• Mental health treatment

• Rehabilitation or behavioural change programs

• Judicial monitoring

• Random drug or alcohol testing

• Restrictions on where you can go or who you can associate with

For example, the court may prohibit you from attending licensed venues, gambling venues, or particular areas such as a CBD or entertainment precinct if those locations are connected to your offending.

Can I keep working while on a CCO?

In most cases, yes.

Many people continue working full-time while serving a Community Corrections Order. Corrections Victoria will generally try to arrange appointments around your employment where possible.

From a practical perspective, most clients who have stable employment and simply attend their appointments have very few issues completing a CCO successfully.

The most important thing is to communicate with your Community Corrections Officer, attend your appointments, complete any required treatment or programs, and comply with the conditions of your order.

What happens if I breach a Community Corrections Order?

A Community Corrections Order is a court order and should be taken seriously.

You can breach a CCO by:

• Committing another criminal offence

• Failing to attend supervision appointments

• Missing drug and alcohol or mental health appointments

• Failing to complete community work

• Refusing to participate in required programs

• Breaching an exclusion zone or other condition of the order

If you are required to abstain from drugs or alcohol, you may also be subject to random testing.

If Corrections Victoria believes you have breached your order, they can bring the matter back before the court.

What are the consequences of breaching a CCO?

The consequences can be significant.

If the court finds that you have breached your Community Corrections Order, it has a number of sentencing options available. Depending on the circumstances, the court may:

• Continue the order with or without changes to the conditions;

• Cancel the order and re-sentence you for the original offences; or

• Impose a more serious penalty, including imprisonment where appropriate.

In other words, breaching a CCO can place you back before the court to be sentenced again for the offences that resulted in the order being made.

Practical advice

If you are sentenced to a Community Corrections Order, treat it like an important commitment.

Keep a diary of your appointments, answer calls from your Community Corrections Officer, attend when required, and notify Corrections as soon as possible if you are unable to attend because of illness or another genuine reason.

In our experience, clients who engage with Corrections, keep their appointments and make a genuine effort to comply with the conditions usually complete their orders successfully. Problems generally arise when appointments are ignored or conditions are repeatedly breached.

If you are struggling to comply with your order, it is important to obtain legal advice as early as possible rather than waiting until breach proceedings have commenced.

Need Advice About a Criminal Matter?

If you have been charged with a criminal offence or have Criminal Hearing at the Ballarat Magistrates Court, obtaining early legal advice is important. Wilkinson Lawyers provides representation in criminal law matters throughout Ballarat and regional Victoria, including:

• Ballarat;
• Bacchus Marsh;
• Maryborough;
• Ararat;
• Stawell;
• Horsham;
• Geelong;
• Bendigo;
• Warrnambool and
• Melbourne metropolitan courts; including Sunshine, Wyndham, Broadmeadows.

Contact Jess Wilkinson on 0468 364 121 or jess@wilkinsonlawyers.com.au to discuss your matter and obtain advice about the best way forward.