17Court may bar or limit eligibility for parole

### 17 Court may bar or limit eligibility for parole > > (1)  This section does not apply to a sentence of imprisonment for the term of an offender's natural life. > > > (2)  A court that imposes a sentence of imprisonment on an offender, either on the conviction of the offender or on the determination of an appeal, or, on appeal, confirms the imposition of such a sentence, may order – > > > > > > (a) that the offender is not eligible for parole in respect of that sentence; or > > > > > > > (b) that the offender is not eligible for parole in respect of that sentence before the expiration of such period as is specified in the order. > > > (2A)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 51 of 2017, s. 7, Applied:14 Dec 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-12-14/act-2017-051#GS7@EN) A court that imposes a sentence of imprisonment on an offender may not make an order under [subsection (2)(b)](#GS17@Gs2@Hpb@EN) in respect of the offender if the court – > > > > > > (a) makes in respect of the offender a community correction order; and > > > > > > > (b) orders that the operational period, within the meaning of [section 42AM](#GS42AM@EN) , of the community correction order is to commence at the end of the sentence of imprisonment. > > > (3)  The period specified in an order under [subsection (2)(b)](#GS17@Gs2@Hpb@EN) is not to be less than one-half of the period of that sentence. > > > (3A)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 25 of 2002, s. 4, Applied:01 Oct 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-10-01/act-2002-025#GS4@Hpa@EN) Where a court imposes a sentence of imprisonment and does not make an order under [subsection (2)](#GS17@Gs2@EN) , the offender is not eligible for parole in respect of that sentence. > > > (4)  In exercising its discretion under [subsection (2)](#GS17@Gs2@EN) , a court may have regard to such matters as it considers necessary or appropriate and, without limiting the generality of this, may have regard to all or any of the following: > > > > > > (a) the nature and circumstances of the offence; > > > > > > > (b) the offender's antecedents or character; > > > > > > > (c) any other sentence to which the offender is subject. > > > (5)  An order under [subsection (2)](#GS17@Gs2@EN) forms, for all purposes, part of the sentence to which it relates. > > > (6)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (6) substituted by No. 25 of 2002, s. 4, Applied:01 Oct 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-10-01/act-2002-025#GS4@Hpb@EN) An offender in respect of whom – > > > > > > (a) an order has been made under [subsection (2)(a)](#GS17@Gs2@Hpa@EN) ; or > > > > > > > (b) [subsection (3A)](#GS17@Gs3A@EN) applies – > > > > is not eligible to be released on parole in respect of his or her sentence. > > > (7)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (7) inserted by No. 25 of 2002, s. 4, Applied:01 Oct 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-10-01/act-2002-025#GS4@Hpb@EN) A court must give reasons for making an order under [subsection (2)](#GS17@Gs2@EN) . > > > (8)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (8) inserted by No. 25 of 2002, s. 4, Applied:01 Oct 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-10-01/act-2002-025#GS4@Hpb@EN) If the whole or part of a sentence of imprisonment is suspended, only the operative sentence is to be taken into account for the purposes of this section. > > > (9)  [*\[Section 17 Subsection (9) inserted by No. 25 of 2002, s. 4, Applied:01 Oct 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-10-01/act-2002-025#GS4@Hpb@EN) In [subsection (8)](#GS17@Gs8@EN) , > > > > > ***operative sentence*** means that part of a sentence of imprisonment which has not been suspended.