This study reports penalties imposed in the NSW District and Supreme Courts in 2010, and compares the findings with those reported in a similar study by the Judicial Commission of NSW in 2002. Presented are some general findings about the profile of offenders, the frequency of offenses before the higher courts, and their classification under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Offense Classification (ANZSOC). Identified are the 20 most common proven principal offenses dealt with in these courts in 2010 and the range of penalties imposed, accounting for almost two thirds of all finalized offenses in a given year. Legislative changes which may have influenced the ranking of and sentencing patterns for, particular offenses since the 2002 study are discussed. This study provides a useful benchmark for future studies about sentencing patterns in the higher courts in NSW. 1 figure, 2 tables, and 1 appendix