Western Australia moves to ban the use of “good character” references in sentencing for criminal cases.
The change follows criticism after three government employees provide character references for a workmate who is jailed for rape. Multiple outlets describe the proposal as a broader ban, not limited to a specific offence type, and say it reflects concern about how such references may influence sentencing outcomes.
While both sources focus on the same policy direction and the same triggering incident involving the references for a person jailed for rape, they frame it as a step taken by another state as well as a WA-specific action. Neither article provides further details on how the ban will operate, when it begins, or what exceptions—if any—may apply.
