Cause Lists

• Supreme Court Criminal
• District Court Criminal
• Adelaide MC Criminal
• Christies Beach MC Criminal
• Elizabeth MC Criminal
• Holden Hill MC Criminal
• Port Adelaide MC Criminal
• Country Magistrates Courts

Your Rights, Criminal Law Basics

Arrest, Your Rights & Bail for general information on topics such as search and seizure and rights against self -incrimination.

Applying for Legal Aid

• Explanation of what is involved in applying for Legal Aid.
• An Application for Legal Aid is available on-line.
• Each application for legal aid is assessed by applying a means test, merits test and guidelines test. To be successful, an application must pass all three tests. These tests are explained for the Public and for Lawyers .
• Foolkit's Index of other Legal Aid bodies

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?

Free Information

The Legal Services Commission Law Handbook - Criminal Law and Traffic Offences (SA) has a chapter with general information for the public.

Traffic Offences

• Explanation of Demerit Points
• List of number of Demerit Points
• On the spot fines

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Have you been a Victim Of Crime?

You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A Victims of Crime fund exists to help those that cannot be readily compensated by the perpetrator of the crime against them. In terms of obtaining compensation, it is a last resort - in other words - it should be accessed when all other means of obtaining compensation have been exhausted.

To find out more about applying for Victims of Crime compensation, go to the Commissioner for Victims Rights website.

There are lawyers that can assist you with your application. Contact the Law Society of South Australia on 8229 0222 to find one.

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 - 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.

National Police Certificate

A National Police Certificate 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.

You must apply to obtain the Certificate. Forms can be downloaded, or copies are available from your local police station. Fees and charges apply.

Fines

Information on paying fines and what to do if you are unable to pay your fine in time is at the Fines Payment Unit website.

Telephone:
Easy Pay Fines Call Centre
1800 659 538

E-mail: easypayfines@courts.sa.gov.au

• Law Handbook (SA) - On-the-spot-fines
• Law Handbook (SA) - Fine Enforcement