‘Instruments of injustice’: Victoria’s highest court denounces state’s mandatory sentencing

Justices Chris Maxwell and Terence Forrest said the oppressive sentencing regime' ignored evidence and was contrary to public interest

• Get our free news app, morning email briefing and daily news podcast

Victoria's highest court has delivered a withering assessment of the state's mandatory sentencing regime, saying it required judges to be instruments of injustice" and showed a profound misunderstanding" of the community's best interests.

In a judgment published on Thursday, court of appeal president, Justice Chris Maxwell, and Justice Terence Forrest said introducing mandatory sentencing for a range of offences over the past decade showed that state governments appeared to have ignored the incontestable evidence about the adverse impact of adult gaol on young offenders".

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning