Community Correction Orders in NSW: what a CCO is, the conditions, and what breach means.

What a CCO is, and where it sits.

A Community Correction Order, or CCO, is a sentence the court can impose under sections 8 and 9 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW). It lets a person serve their sentence in the community, under conditions, rather than in prison. It was introduced in the 2018 sentencing reforms, which cleared away the old patchwork of good behaviour bonds, community service orders and suspended sentences and put simpler orders in their place.

The CCO is the middle of three community orders. Below it is the conditional release order, the lightest, which can be made without a conviction. Above it is the intensive correction order, a sentence of imprisonment served in the community. The CCO carries more weight than a conditional release order, because it follows a conviction and can include supervision and unpaid work, but it keeps the person out of prison.

The conditions: standard and additional.

Every CCO carries two standard conditions, set by section 88. The person must not commit any offence, and must appear before the court if called on to do so. Those apply to every order and cannot be left out.

On top of those, the court can add conditions under section 89. The common ones are supervision by Community Corrections, community service work of up to 500 hours, a curfew, a non-association condition that bars contact with named people, a place restriction that keeps the person away from a stated area, and a condition to take part in rehabilitation or treatment. The court chooses the mix that fits the offence and the offender. A CCO for a driving matter may carry supervision and a short course; a CCO for a violence matter may carry community service and a non-association condition. The order is built to the case.

How long a CCO lasts.

A CCO can run for up to 3 years from the day it is made. Any community service work condition is capped at 500 hours. Within those limits, the court sets the length of the order and the number of hours to match the seriousness of the offence and the person's circumstances. A minor matter might attract a short order with light conditions. A more serious matter that still falls short of prison might attract a longer order with supervision and a substantial number of hours of work.

Does a CCO leave a criminal record?

Yes. This is the point that most surprises people. A CCO is imposed after a conviction is recorded. That is the main line between a CCO and the lighter options. A section 10 dismissal or a conditional release order without conviction ends with no conviction on the record. A CCO does not. The person avoids prison, but they are convicted. That is why, where the facts allow, the defence pushes for a section 10 or a conditional release order first, and treats a CCO as the next step down if those are out of reach.

What happens if you breach a CCO.

A CCO is a court order, and breaching a condition has consequences. Under section 107C, a breach can be dealt with by the court or by the Parole Authority. The response can range from taking no action, through a warning, to varying the conditions, to revoking the order. If the order is revoked, the person can be brought back and re-sentenced for the original offence, and the new sentence can be heavier, including a term of imprisonment. Committing a fresh offence during the order is the most serious kind of breach, because it also breaks the first standard condition.

If a breach is alleged, get advice early. Many breaches can be explained or answered, and the court has a wide discretion in how it responds. The worst step is to ignore it, because an unanswered breach is the one most likely to end with the order revoked.

Getting the sentence right.

Which order a person receives is not fixed. It is argued. The same offence can attract a section 10, a conditional release order, a CCO or an intensive correction order depending on how the sentence is prepared and presented. Good preparation, including character material, evidence of rehabilitation and a clear plan, moves a person down the ladder toward the lighter order. Our note on the early plea discount explains how the timing of a plea also affects the result. The order the person ends up with is often decided in the weeks before the sentence, not on the day.

Primary sources: Community Correction Orders are made under sections 8 and 9 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), with the standard conditions in section 88, the additional conditions in section 89, and the breach provisions in section 107C. The NSW Sentencing Bench Book collects the case law on when each order is appropriate.

Common questions

What is a Community Correction Order in NSW?

A sentence under sections 8 and 9 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) that is served in the community under conditions instead of in prison. It sits between a conditional release order and an intensive correction order, can run up to 3 years, and follows a conviction.

What are the conditions of a CCO?

Standard conditions under section 88 are not to commit any offence and to appear if called on. Additional conditions under section 89 can include supervision, community service of up to 500 hours, a curfew, non-association, a place restriction, and rehabilitation or treatment.

How long does a Community Correction Order last?

Up to 3 years from the day it is made, with any community service work capped at 500 hours. The court sets the length and the hours to match the seriousness of the offence and the offender's circumstances.

Does a CCO mean a criminal record?

Yes. A CCO is imposed after a conviction is recorded, unlike a section 10 or a conditional release order made without conviction. It still avoids prison, which is why it is often the outcome the defence works toward when a section 10 is out of reach.

What happens if you breach a Community Correction Order?

A breach can go back to the court or the Parole Authority under section 107C. The options range from no action, to varying conditions, to revoking the order. If revoked, the person can be re-sentenced for the original offence, possibly more heavily. Get advice early if a breach is alleged.

What is the difference between a CCO, a CRO and an ICO?

A conditional release order is the lightest and can be made without conviction. A community correction order is in the middle, follows a conviction, and can carry supervision and community service. An intensive correction order is a sentence of imprisonment served in the community under strict conditions.

To speak to a criminal defence lawyer, call Aaron Kernaghan on 0421 717 019.

This article is written by Aaron Kernaghan, criminal defence lawyer at Good Legal Lawyers, as at 28 August 2026. It is commentary and reflects the personal opinion of the author only. It is not legal advice, it is not a substitute for advice on your own matter, and it does not purport to be accurate or complete. Any matter referred to may be before the court and any person charged is presumed innocent. For advice on a specific matter, contact Aaron Kernaghan on 0421 717 019 or contact the firm.

More criminal-law commentary by Aaron Kernaghan.

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