SA plans prison sentencing overhaul

Violent criminals in South Australia may be given more jail time under reforms proposed by the government.

The government plans to overhaul sentencing principles to ensure judges prioritise public safety over all other considerations.

Attorney-General John Rau says the principle of public safety should override all other concerns, including the need to ensure sentences are proportionate.

"The current laws put that and about 100 other things as important considerations and they don't distinguish between which one of them is the primary consideration," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"What we're saying is public safety should be paramount."

The reforms also target offenders whose good character or standing in the community enables them to conduct criminal behaviour.

Such behaviour would now be considered an aggravating factor which could lead to a harsher sentence.

Mr Rau said he expected that providing a clearer direction to judges would have a balanced effect on the state's overburdened prison system.

"There's a two-way pull here," he said.

"There would be some people who would be receiving longer prison sentences and there would be some people who may not be dealt with in prison but would be dealt with in rehabilitation programs."

The proposed changes form part of what the government says will be the most comprehensive review of the state's sentencing laws in 30 years.

They will be up for public consultation until March 15.