Moree Courthouse will become the 23rd NSW location to offer Circle Sentencing. Photo: Moree Online News.
Aboriginal Elders and respected community members will take part in an alternative sentencing process at Moree Local Court following the local introduction of Circle Sentencing in August 2026.
Available to eligible Aboriginal offenders who have pleaded guilty or been found guilty, the process brings participants together to discuss the offending, its impact and the offender’s circumstances before an appropriate sentence is considered.
The magistrate retains responsibility for the final sentencing decision.
Moree Elder Denise W said she hoped the introduction of Circle Sentencing would build trust among community members and confidence in the process. Fellow Elder Irene D said she hoped people would recognise that Elders were trying to help participants help themselves.
Moree Elder Charlie G also welcomed the program’s introduction, saying it was needed locally to support Aboriginal people.
The NSW Government says Circle Sentencing is intended to involve Aboriginal communities more directly in sentencing, strengthen accountability and address factors contributing to offending.
Moree is the 23rd NSW location to offer Circle Sentencing. The program was first introduced at Nowra in 2002.
A 2020 NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research study found Aboriginal people who participated in Circle Sentencing had lower reoffending rates than comparable Aboriginal offenders sentenced through the conventional court process.
Those findings relate to the program more broadly and are not evidence of outcomes in Moree.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice announced on August 21, 2026 that Moree Local Court would begin accepting referrals during August 2026.
