COMMISSION SAYS CONSISTENCY IN DRUG SENTENCES

The Judicial Commission of New South Wales says the State's highest
courts are displaying consistency in the sentences handed down to
people convicted of drug offences.

The commission has released an analysis of the sentences imposed on
drug offenders in New South Wales from 1992 to 1997.

It says there is a clear tendency for the courts to impose
non-custodial sentences for less serious offences, jail terms in most
trafficking cases and longer terms for more serious matters.

The reports showed nine out of 10 people convicted of importing
illegal drugs were sentenced to a jail term.

All offenders convicted of commercial importation were jailed, while
95 per cent of those convicted of importing a trafficable quantity of
a drug, other than cannabis, were sent to prison.