The maximum penalty for the offence of “serious animal cruelty” is 5 years in prison.
According to the Judicial Commission of NSW, the actual penalties imposed for the offence are as follows:
- Prison: 44.44%
- Community Correction Order: 33.33%
- Intensive Correction Order: 11.11%
- Conditional Release Order with Conviction: 5.56%
- Conditional Release Order without Conviction: 5.56%%
The average prison sentence for the offence is 18 months imprisonment, and the average non-parole period (or minimum prison term that must be served) is 11 months in prison.