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Totality principle

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aggregate sentence and consider whether the aggregate is 'just and appropriate'. The principle has been stated many times in various forms: 'when a number of offences are being dealt with and specific punishments in respect of them are being totted up to make a total, it is always necessary for the court to take a last look at the total just to see whether it looks wrong'; 'when ... cases of multiplicity of offences come before the court, the court must not content itself by doing the arithmetic and passing the sentence which the arithmetic produces. It must look at the totality of the criminal behaviour and ask itself what is the appropriate sentence for all the offences.'
371: 669:. Aware of public concerns re perceived sentence discounting by the judiciary for multiple offences, the courts state that this assumes that offenders are "rational and well-informed calculators of the cost/benefit of committing offences", and hence see the correct application of the totality principle as "recognising a need to balance totality with deterrence and adequate denunciation of the conduct involved." 544:
All courts, when sentencing for more than a single offence, should pass a total sentence which reflects all the offending behaviour before it and is just and proportionate. This is so whether the sentences are structured as concurrent or consecutive. Therefore, concurrent sentences will ordinarily be
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offences arise out of unrelated facts or incidents; offences that are of the same or similar kind but where the overall criminality will not sufficiently be reflected by concurrent sentences; one or more offence(s) qualifies for a statutory minimum sentence and concurrent sentences would improperly
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The effect of the totality principle is to require a sentencer who has passed a series of sentences, each properly calculated in relation to the offence for which it is imposed and each properly made consecutive in accordance with the principles governing consecutive sentences, to review the
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It is usually impossible to arrive at a just and proportionate sentence for multiple offending simply by adding together notional single sentences. It is necessary to address the offending behaviour, together with the factors personal to the offender as a
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As well as to prevent an excessive sentence, the principle is a product of two further principles "namely proportionality and mercy." Further, the principle must be applied "without a suggestion that a discount is given for multiple offences."
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to craft a global sentence of all offences that is not excessive. If the total sentence is excessive the court must adjust the sentence so that the "total sentence is proper". A sentence may violate the totality principle where:
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offences arise out of the same incident; there are a series of offences of the same or similar kind, specifically when committed against the same person.
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The totality principle is "well established" in the common law of Australia. The High Court quoted Thomas's formulation of the principle in
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This is so as to "avoid sentences that cumulatively are out of proportion to the gravity of the offences." In application it requires
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Resultantly, the suggestion for the application of concurrent or consecutive sentences is within the following guidelines:
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is based on the principles of English common law, and hence include the totality principle, which are applied by the
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The global sentence considerably exceeds the "normal" level of the most serious of the individual offences.
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c) where consecutive sentences are imposed, the combined sentence should not be unduly long or harsh;
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The global sentence "exceeds what is appropriate given the offender's overall culpability.
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Within the context of English and Welsh law, the totality principle is defined within the
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Principles of sentencing: The sentencing policy of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division
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see also R v Tiegs, 2012 ABCA 116 (CanLII), 2012 ABCA 116, AJ No. 378
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Sentencing multiple offender, including the Totality principle
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Totality principle and guidelines at the Sentencing Council UK
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Section 718.2 applies the totality principle by stating that:
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Principles and Values in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
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principle which applies when a court imposes multiple
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longer than a single sentence for a single offence.
711:Lucia Zedner, Julian V. Roberts (16 August 2012). 688: 539:The principle of totality comprises two elements: 1197: 524:Sentencing guidelines are contained within the 1059:R. v. D.F.P. (2005), 197 C.C.C. 498 (N.L.C.A.) 1025:Sentencing: State and Federal Law in Victoria 449: 684: 682: 894:"Definitive Guidelines TICS & Totality" 779: 944: 942: 808: 806: 804: 456: 442: 831: 747: 745: 706: 704: 679: 1130:, 234 CCC 3d 338, 437 AR 148 at para. 35 952:. Judicial Commission of New South Wales 910: 534:Offences Taken into Consideration (TICs) 986: 964: 939: 801: 1198: 742: 701: 665:The totality principle applies within 1068: 974:. State of Victoria Judicial College 587:(1988). It is also reflected in the 486:Court of Appeal of England and Wales 1136:, 225 CCC 3d 253 at paras. 20 to 31 13: 1048:R v Harris (2007) 171 A Crim R 267 1046:R v Knight (2005) 155 A Crim R 252 865:"Sentencing – Overview – Totality" 814:"8. Sentencing Multiple Offenders" 14: 1247: 1175: 502: 369: 1191:New Zealand Ministry of Justice 1142: 1120: 1111: 1094: 1081: 1062: 1053: 1040: 1037:R v MAK (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 1031: 1016: 1001: 925:University of Western Australia 818:New Zealand Ministry of Justice 780:Keith Ewing (5 November 2013). 28:Criminal trials and convictions 1211:Legal doctrines and principles 882: 857: 773: 654: 497: 318:Sexually violent predator laws 1: 1023:R Fox and A Freiberg (1999). 672: 526:Coroners and Justice Act 2009 998: at 8; (1988) 166 CLR 59 633: 572: 211:Cruel and unusual punishment 7: 1117:R. v. E.T.P., 2001 MBCA 194 689:Dr David A. Thomas (1970). 10: 1252: 1087:M. (C.A.), 1 S.C.R. 500, 1027:(2 ed.). p. 725. 1013:; (1997) 189 CLR 295, 308. 658: 637: 606: 576: 506: 413: English/Welsh courts 923:. Crime Research Centre, 890:Sentencing Advisory Panel 869:Crown Prosecution Service 602: 532:, applied along with the 519:Criminal Justice Act 2003 515:Criminal Justice Act 1991 67:Presumption of innocence 1150:"Sentencing Principles" 1071:Sentencing, 4th edition 1008:Postiglione v The Queen 782:"David Thomas obituary" 755:for England and Wales. 719:Oxford University Press 568:undermine that minimum. 229:Indefinite imprisonment 1050:R v Wheeler NSWCCA 34 565:Consecutive sentences: 552: 495: 288:Miscarriage of justice 1157:Department of Justice 1011:[1997] HCA 26 996:[1988] HCA 70 649:Department of Justice 559:Concurrent sentences: 541: 509:English and Welsh law 490: 313:Sex offender registry 33:Rights of the accused 757:"Totality guideline" 521:Section 166 (3)(b). 399:English/Welsh courts 327:Related areas of law 645:Hong Kong Basic Law 308:Restorative justice 1236:Law of New Zealand 843:Sentencing Council 753:Sentencing Council 530:Sentencing Council 470:totality principle 198:Capital punishment 190:Dangerous offender 77:Self-incrimination 22:Criminal procedure 466: 465: 341:Criminal defenses 283:Habitual offender 234:Three-strikes law 224:Life imprisonment 203:Execution warrant 72:Exclusionary rule 1243: 1231:Law of Hong Kong 1216:Law of Australia 1206:Sentencing (law) 1169: 1168: 1166: 1164: 1154: 1146: 1140: 1124: 1118: 1115: 1109: 1098: 1092: 1085: 1079: 1078: 1066: 1060: 1057: 1051: 1044: 1038: 1035: 1029: 1028: 1020: 1014: 1005: 999: 990: 984: 983: 981: 979: 968: 962: 961: 959: 957: 946: 937: 936: 934: 932: 922: 914: 908: 907: 905: 903: 898: 886: 880: 879: 877: 875: 861: 855: 854: 852: 850: 835: 829: 828: 826: 824: 810: 799: 798: 796: 794: 777: 771: 770: 768: 766: 761: 749: 740: 739: 737: 735: 708: 699: 698: 686: 640:Law of Hong Kong 458: 451: 444: 430: 422: 414: 409: 401: 393: 374: 373: 273:Criminal justice 127:Directed verdict 18: 17: 1251: 1250: 1246: 1245: 1244: 1242: 1241: 1240: 1196: 1195: 1178: 1173: 1172: 1162: 1160: 1152: 1148: 1147: 1143: 1139: 1137: 1131: 1125: 1121: 1116: 1112: 1104: 1100:R. v. Keshane, 1099: 1095: 1089:1996 CanLII 230 1086: 1082: 1067: 1063: 1058: 1054: 1049: 1047: 1045: 1041: 1036: 1032: 1021: 1017: 1006: 1002: 991: 987: 977: 975: 970: 969: 965: 955: 953: 948: 947: 940: 930: 928: 920: 916: 915: 911: 901: 899: 896: 887: 883: 873: 871: 863: 862: 858: 848: 846: 837: 836: 832: 822: 820: 812: 811: 802: 792: 790: 778: 774: 764: 762: 759: 750: 743: 733: 731: 729: 721:. p. 286. 709: 702: 687: 680: 675: 667:New Zealand law 663: 661:New Zealand law 657: 642: 636: 619:Canadian courts 611: 605: 589:Crimes Act 1914 581: 575: 511: 505: 500: 462: 433: 425: 420:Canadian courts 417: 412: 407:Scottish courts 404: 396: 388: 380: 368: 355: 336:Civil procedure 322: 243:Post-sentencing 238: 207: 181: 131: 96: 82:Double jeopardy 12: 11: 5: 1249: 1239: 1238: 1233: 1228: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1208: 1194: 1193: 1184: 1177: 1176:External links 1174: 1171: 1170: 1141: 1132:R v Abrosimo, 1119: 1110: 1093: 1080: 1061: 1052: 1039: 1030: 1015: 1000: 985: 963: 938: 909: 881: 856: 845:. 6 March 2012 830: 800: 772: 741: 728:978-0199696796 727: 700: 677: 676: 674: 671: 659:Main article: 656: 653: 638:Main article: 635: 632: 631: 630: 627: 607:Main article: 604: 601: 579:Australian law 577:Main article: 574: 571: 570: 569: 562: 551: 550: 546: 507:Main article: 504: 503:United Kingdom 501: 499: 496: 464: 463: 461: 460: 453: 446: 438: 435: 434: 432: 431: 423: 415: 410: 402: 394: 385: 382: 381: 379: 378: 376:Law portal 365: 362: 361: 357: 356: 354: 353: 348: 343: 338: 332: 329: 328: 324: 323: 321: 320: 315: 310: 305: 303:Rehabilitation 300: 295: 290: 285: 280: 275: 270: 265: 259: 254: 248: 245: 244: 240: 239: 237: 236: 231: 226: 221: 215: 214: 213: 206: 205: 200: 194: 193: 192: 187: 180: 179: 174: 169: 164: 159: 154: 149: 143: 140: 139: 133: 132: 130: 129: 124: 119: 114: 108: 105: 104: 98: 97: 95: 94: 89: 84: 79: 74: 69: 64: 59: 54: 49: 44: 38: 35: 34: 30: 29: 25: 24: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1248: 1237: 1234: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1222: 1221:Law of Canada 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 1203: 1201: 1192: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1179: 1158: 1151: 1145: 1135: 1134:2007 BCCA 406 1129: 1128:2008 ABCA 293 1123: 1114: 1108: 1105:R. v. Hicks, 1103: 1097: 1090: 1084: 1076: 1072: 1069:Ruby (1994). 1065: 1056: 1043: 1034: 1026: 1019: 1012: 1009: 1004: 997: 994: 989: 973: 967: 951: 945: 943: 926: 919: 913: 895: 891: 885: 870: 866: 860: 844: 840: 834: 819: 815: 809: 807: 805: 789: 788: 783: 776: 758: 754: 748: 746: 730: 724: 720: 716: 715: 707: 705: 696: 692: 685: 683: 678: 670: 668: 662: 652: 650: 646: 641: 628: 625: 624: 623: 620: 616: 610: 600: 596: 594: 590: 586: 580: 566: 563: 560: 557: 556: 555: 547: 543: 542: 540: 537: 535: 531: 527: 522: 520: 516: 510: 494: 489: 487: 483: 479: 475: 471: 459: 454: 452: 447: 445: 440: 439: 437: 436: 429: 424: 421: 416: 411: 408: 403: 400: 397: Not in 395: 392: 387: 386: 384: 383: 377: 372: 367: 366: 364: 363: 359: 358: 352: 349: 347: 344: 342: 339: 337: 334: 333: 331: 330: 326: 325: 319: 316: 314: 311: 309: 306: 304: 301: 299: 296: 294: 291: 289: 286: 284: 281: 279: 276: 274: 271: 269: 266: 263: 260: 258: 255: 253: 250: 249: 247: 246: 242: 241: 235: 232: 230: 227: 225: 222: 220: 217: 216: 212: 209: 208: 204: 201: 199: 196: 195: 191: 188: 186: 183: 182: 178: 175: 173: 170: 168: 165: 163: 160: 158: 155: 153: 150: 148: 145: 144: 142: 141: 138: 135: 134: 128: 125: 123: 120: 118: 115: 113: 110: 109: 107: 106: 103: 100: 99: 93: 90: 88: 85: 83: 80: 78: 75: 73: 70: 68: 65: 63: 60: 58: 55: 53: 50: 48: 45: 43: 40: 39: 37: 36: 32: 31: 27: 26: 23: 20: 19: 16: 1161:. Retrieved 1144: 1126:R v Wharry, 1122: 1113: 1107:2007 NLCA 41 1102:2005 SKCA 18 1096: 1083: 1075:Butterworths 1070: 1064: 1055: 1042: 1033: 1024: 1018: 1007: 1003: 992: 988: 976:. Retrieved 966: 954:. Retrieved 929:. Retrieved 927:. p. 34 912: 900:. Retrieved 884: 872:. Retrieved 859: 847:. Retrieved 833: 821:. Retrieved 791:. Retrieved 787:The Guardian 785: 775: 763:. Retrieved 732:. 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Index

Criminal procedure
Fair trial
Pre-trial
Speedy trial
Jury trial
Counsel
Presumption of innocence
Exclusionary rule
Self-incrimination
Double jeopardy
Bail
Appeal
Verdict
Conviction
Acquittal
Not proven
Directed verdict
Sentencing
Mandatory
Suspended
Custodial
Periodic
Discharge
Guidelines
Guilt
Totality
Dangerous offender
Capital punishment
Execution warrant
Cruel and unusual punishment

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