Thursday, 25th April 2024
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.
Examples of Summary Offences are DWI, smoking marijuana, offensive conduct or language
Examples of Indictable Offences are murder, robbery, malicious wounding and dangerous driving.
Law Handbook - Criminal Law chapter of The Law Handbook.
Can include threats (real) of violence or where a victim is struck without their consent. More serious kinds of assault carry bigger penalties.
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.
All applications for bail in NSW are governed by the Bail Act 1978. This applies whether you are charged with an offence under the State law or Commonwealth law.
The Act involves a number of steps. Firstly, are you in the group entitled to bail or are you in the group (murder for example) where bail will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Next, is it to be presumed that you should be given bail or are you in the group where it is presumed that you should not be granted bail. Watch out for the exceptions in the Act.
Once you have worked those things out, you then look at Section 32. This lists all the things to be weighed up in deciding whether or not to grant bail. These include the chances of the person appearing in Court if granted bail, the effect of gaol on them and the risk that they may commit further offences or interfere with witnesses if they are out on bail.
If you are in custody and your case is coming up, then it is important that you get urgent legal advice from your own solicitor, legal aid or the duty solicitor at the Court.
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.
Please give us feedback about your experiences using Foolkit and ideas for improvements.
If you have been the victim of a crime, then you may be eligible for assistance from Victims Services Victims Support Line Victims of Crime Vcitims Access Line (24 hours) (02) 8688 5511 or 1800 633 063 (toll free) .
You may also have other legal rights against the offender. For this you will need to see 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.
Smart Guy Needs a Lawyer is 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.
On the spot fines for things like parking and traffic offences, public transport offences, littering or drinking in a public place are dealt with under the Infringements System. For information on how this works, how to dispute a fine or to ask for time to pay are explained at the LawAssist web site.
Information on how to pay a fine, what happens if you don't pay it one time, how to ask for an extension of time to pay or to do community service instead is available at Local Court website .
Emergency 000
Police Assistance Line and general enquiries: 131 444
Customer assistance unit: 1800 622 571
1800 333 000
(02) 9286 4000
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.
National Criminal History Record Check Fees and charges apply.
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?
The Jury Service web site answers all the frequently asked questions and gives detailed instructions as to what you must do.
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.
