Tuesday, 19th March 2024
for lawyers
for the public
Choose your State
Supreme Court District Court Magistrates Court QCAT Court Other State Courts Federal Courts Barristers
State Courts Federal Courts
Affording A Lawyer Barristers Choosing a Lawyer Finding Lawyers Working with Your
 Lawyer
Legal System Acts Regulations
Choosing an Area
 of Law
Administrative Law Business Law Criminal Law Discrimination Law Elder Law Employment Law Family Law Injuries &
 Compensation
Property Law Tax Wills & Probate
Accessibility &
 Language
A to Z Collection Community Legal
 Assistance
Desktop Detective DIY Legal Kits Finding Detailed
 Legal Information
Foolkit Widgets General Tools Legal Aid Funding

Police & Criminal Law

On this page

State Case Lists

A daily list of the cases to be heard in these State Courts. The list is updated late in the day if you wish to check the list for the following day.

Other Locations

 

A | B | C| D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K| L | M |

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Queensland 1  crime police criminal law charged summons jail sentence guilty offence fine victime of crime legal aid prisoner

Types of Crime

Summary Offences

  • Charges are tried by a magistrate in the Magistrates Court
  • Less serious offences than those tried by a judge and jury ("indictable offences")
  • Penalties are less severe
  • You cannot insist on a jury trial

Examples of Summary Offences are Drink Driving, smoking marijuana, offensive conduct or language

Indictable Offences

  • Charges are tried by a judge and jury
  • Extremely serious charges such as murder are tried in the Supreme Court
  • Other indictable offences are heard in the District Court
  • There is no time limit for when charges must be laid for an indictable offence

Examples of Indictable Offences are murder, robbery, malicious wounding and dangerous driving.

Your Rights, Criminal Law Basics

  1. You are innocent until proven guilty.
  2. The prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
  3. Silence can rarely be used to suggest guilt.
  4. A person who has been acquitted cannot be tried again for the same offence. (the double jeopardy rule)
  5. A person charged with a summary offence t may ask the police for further details of the charges (for example; where, when and how the police claim the offence occurred).
  6. If the police fail to provide these details, then the Court must either adjourn the charge until they are supplied, or dismiss the charge.
  7. A request for particulars should be made in writing at least 14 days before the hearing.

Dealings With Police by Legal Aid has information on topics such as arrest, search and seizure and the questions you must answer for the police.

Common Types of Crimes

Assault

Can include threats (real) of violence or where a victim is struck without their consent. More serious kinds of assault carry bigger penalties.

Stealing

Can include instances where you find something and keep it, "borrowing" money without consent, receiving stolen property and obtaining money or goods by false pretences (usually telling lies).

A person charged with shoplifting can be searched by a police officer.

Store staff who believe on reasonable grounds that somebody has stolen from the store can detain the suspect until the police arrive.

Shoplifting is usually punished by a fine, but repeated offences may lead to a jail sentence.

Applying for Legal Aid


Acts, Regulations, Rules & Forms

Are you looking for detailed information like this, or contact details for any of the bodies mentioned on this page. If so, then start on our Criminal Law for Lawyers page.

If it isn't there, then start on our Finding Detailed Legal Information page.

Please read our warning on that page "Be careful using these resources".

The Law is not always as straightforward as it appears. We have not included any information about when and how to use that information or any traps. We assume that the Lawyers will know this.

Help Us Improve

Please give us feedback about your experiences using Foolkit and ideas for improvements.


 

Have you been a Victim Of Crime?

If you have been the victim of a crime, then you may be eligible for assistance fromSupport Services for Victims of Crime

For information on Victim Assist Queensland and referral to support services for victims of crime Call Victims LinkUp on 1300 LINKUP (1300 546 587) 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday (not including public holidays)

victimslinkup@justice.qld.gov.au
Fax: (07) 3109 1901

Legal Aid information for Victims of Crime

You may also have other legal rights against the offender. For this you will need to see a lawyer.

Avoiding Trouble

  • If the police suspect you of having committed an offence, do not consent or agree for the police to do anything without speaking to your lawyer first.
  • The same applies to answering questions, participating in a record of interview or appearing in an identification parade. You must though give your name and address and, in some cases, information about the identity of the driver/owner of a vehicle.
  • When the police say they just want to ask a couple of questions to eliminate you from their enquiries or to clear something up - that is often not what they really have in mind.
  • The Prosecutor decides whether to drop criminal charges, not the victim.
  • Be polite and respectful of the police.
  • If stopped by the police, stay calm and in control of your words, body language, and emotions.
  • Don't resist a police officer, even if you think you are innocent.

Qld Police Force

www.police.qld.gov.au

Emergency 000

Police Headquarters
200 Roma Street
Brisbane Qld 4000

GPO Box 1440
Brisbane Qld 4001 

Telephone: (07) 3364 6464
Fax: (07) 3236 2359
TTY: +61 7 3364 4655


Australian Federal Police

www.afp.gov.au

Ph: (02) 9286 4000

Gold Coast

69 Laver Drive
Robina QLD 4226

PO Box 3997
Robina Town Centre QLD 4230

Ph: (07) 5553 8777
Fax: (07) 5553 8747

Cairns Office

110 McLeod Street
Cairns Qld 4870

PO Box 844
Cairns QLD 4870

Ph: (07) 4044 6600
Fax: (07) 4044 6680

Queensland 2  crime police criminal law charged summons jail sentence guilty offence fine victime of crime legal aid prisoner

Sentencing

Often it can be hard to understand why a penalty seems to be too light or too hard when we read or hear about it in the media.

Judge for yourself: A Guide to Sentencing in Australia explains in plain English what goes on in the background in deciding the appropriate sentence.

What factors does the court take into account? How much discretion does the judicial officer have? To what extent is the discretion limited? Why is a particular penalty chosen? Why a non-custodial sentence rather than imprisonment? Why a minimum sentence of three years for a bashing rather than, say, ten years? Is the sentence going to be effective? How will we know?

Character references

A character reference helps to show the court that people in your daily life think highly of you and that you are a person of good character.

It shows the court that you have good qualities, are not likely to offend again if given a second chance and that a more lenient penalty (sentence) may be appropriate.

  • Character and other references (Note: discuss any special reasons why a conviction should not be recorded. This is similar to a "spent conviction order" referred to in this WA article)

Need Advice From A Lawyer?

If you have been served with a summons or have been requested to attend a police station for any reason, it is best you seek advice from a lawyer.

It is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible - don't leave it to the last minute.

The Law Society of Queensland has a free Law Society Lawyer Referral Service, where you can select area of law, language and suburb.

Smart Guy Needs a Lawyer

Smart Guy Needs a Lawyer is a publication aimed at young people who may need to attend court or see a lawyeris a publication aimed at young people who may need to attend court or see a lawyer. It explains how young people should choose a lawyer and what to expect when they see them.

Appearing In Court

  • When required to attend Court, you should dress appropriately.
  • Men should wear a suit and tie if possible, and ladies, a smart suit or dress. Work uniforms should be avoided, if possible. Shorts, jeans, thongs, slacks and short dresses should be avoided at all costs.
  • Arrive at Court on time. Plan your arrival in advance, allowing extra time for public transport delays, or traffic problems. Aim to arrive at least ten (10) minutes early and inform the Court official in the foyer of the Court of your arrival, especially if you are representing yourself (i.e. you do not have a lawyer).
  • Loud talking or whispering whilst court is in session is unacceptable
  • Turn off your mobile phones and/or pager before entering Court premises
  • You must always show respect to the judicial officer at all times. Judicial officers are addressed as "Your Honour".
  • You should bow slightly upon entering, and leaving a Court when it is in session (see how the lawyers and staff do it).

Jury Duty

The Courts Website has information on selection, being excused, payment, what is expected of you and gives detailed instructions as to what you must do.

Some Government Bodies

Police Check

A National Criminal History Record Check or a 'police check' provides a summary of a person's criminal history. It is sometimes requested by organisations as one part of their process to ensure the integrity of their staff or volunteers.

Police Certificate Fees and charges apply.

Fines & Demerit Points

On the spot fines for things like parking and traffic offences, public transport offences, littering or drinking in a public place are dealt with by the State Penalties Enforcement Registry. For information on how this works, how to dispute a fine or to ask for time to pay are explained at the State Penalties Enforcement Regsitry Website.

They also enforce Court fines. See How SPER Works for a diagram of what happens with all kinds of fines. On the left of that page are a list of topics you may be interested in.

Queensland 3  crime police criminal law charged summons jail sentence guilty offence fine victime of crime legal aid prisoner