Good character references to be scrapped in all WA criminal cases

The ability for convicted criminals to rely on good character references from family, friends and colleagues to reduce their sentences will be banned in Western Australia, after three government employees were stood down for supporting a former colleague convicted of rape.The WA government has rushed to ban the practice after revelations three Western Power staff provided references to a senior manager who was jailed for raping a former colleague on a work trip.Currently, judges can reduce the sentences of convicted criminals based on character references provided to the court.Work had already been underway to end the practice in child abuse cases, but the Cook government was pushed into taking further action after the Western Power saga was made public.Jeffrey David Spinner, 59, was sentenced to five years in jail after taking a female colleague to his hotel room when she was heavily intoxicated in 2024, and assaulting her.Court transcripts included eight positive character references from his colleagues which the judge found indicated the rape was "out of character".Western Power employee Jeffrey David Spinner (right) was in June sentenced to five years in jail for the rape of a colleague in 2024. (Facebook: Jeff Spinner)One Western Power colleague said Spinner had always acted "respectfully and appropriately" towards her and others, while another described him as having a "strong moral compass".Three of those colleagues have been stood down, pending a review ordered by Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, after media reporting brought the case to light.'Favourable' treatmentAttorney-General Tony Buti said legislation currently being drafted would now be expanded to ban references for all crimes."This is important reform [and] was already well advanced for child abuse cases," he said in a statement."Expanding it to ban character references for other sentencing hearings is an important next step."Tony Buti says the changes will apply to all criminal cases. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)A government statement noted there had been "growing concern" about a perception people with "professional standing, community status or strong personal networks" were getting "favourable" treatment as a result of good character references.The state's leading family and sexual violence advocate had warned the practice allowed unreliable evidence into courtrooms and risked making victims feel they were to blame. Case highlights 'significant concern'A snap review of the Western Power case, and the utility's handling of the matter, was expected to be completed around the start of this week.Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the case had highlighted "significant concern" about the use of good character references."It is clear that the public doesn't support good character references. I don't support them either," she said in a statement."Put simply — convicted criminals shouldn't have the benefit of glowing references when it comes to sentencing."Today's announcement is a sensible move which will ensure our court processes meet community expectations and bring WA into line with other jurisdictions."New South Wales has banned character references in sexual offences cases only. In February the Victorian government announced it planned to scrap good character references in all cases.