Drug Court Program and Eligibility in NSW
Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Treating drug-related offenders, rather than resorting to sending them to prison, is far more effective in regard to addressing re-offending rates, according to research conducted by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). Drug Court ...continue reading
Should Australia Legalise Cannabis?: An Interview with Michael Balderstone, Leader of the HEMP Party
Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. As the one-year anniversary of marijuana’s legalisation in ACT and New Zealand’s upcoming referendum on legalising cannabis loom, it prompts consideration surrounding legalisation of the plant Australia-wide. On October 17, New Zealanders will vote in a referendum that will determine whether the growing, sale and consumption of cannabis for ...continue reading
NSW Police Commissioner Defends Officers Who Performed ‘Unlawful’ Arrest on Curtis Scott
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has sought to defend the actions of police officers involved in the wrongful arrest of NRL player Curtis Scott. The bodycam footage of the arrest shown in court sparked outrage, with it depicting Scott, who was passed out drunk at the foot of ...continue reading
Can Police Search You Using a Drug Detection Dog in NSW?
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Sniffer dog operations have reportedly returned following their apparent suspension due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sniff Off, a Greens campaign for police accountability, drug law reform and civil liberties, regularly reports on sightings of drug dog operations in order to raise the public awareness. They ...continue reading
The New Laws on Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System: The Diversionary Pathway
There is an available legislative framework for a NSW court to determine criminal proceedings where the accused or defendant has mental health issues relevant to the case. This legislative framework is echoed in The Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) (‘The Act’). It is a response to the increasing contact with the criminal ...continue reading
Plot to Smuggle Drugs into Maximum-Security Jail Fails as Prison Officials Quickly Thwart Plan
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh. It was an attempt to drop off drugs with the help of a drone to a maximum-security jail in New South Wales’ Hunter region that failed miserably – so miserably that neither the plan nor the drone actually took off. The plan all came undone on the morning ...continue reading
Concerns Reignited for Prisoners Amid Further Outbreaks of COVID-19
By Poppy Morandin. There are reportedly 70 inmates in lockdown within Silverwater Correctional Complex after coming into close contact with a staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Within their advocacy efforts, The Greens have issued an open letter to Anthony Roberts, Minister for Corrections detailing the “significant concerns…about the lockdown at Silverwater ...continue reading
Law on the Age of Criminal Responsibility in NSW: An Interview with Greens MP David Shoebridge
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Despite a strong campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14, the decision has been deferred to 2021, following concerns that further work needs to be done regarding processes and services for children who exhibit offending behaviour. The issue was discussed at the meeting ...continue reading
Two Men Snorted Cocaine in Front of Police Have Pleaded Guilty and Sentenced with a Non-Conviction
By Poppy Morandin & Jimmy Singh. It would seem reasonable to assume that individuals would know better than to snort cocaine in plain sight and in front of police. However, 26-year-olds Mitchell Anthony Price and Keegan Brendan Moore seemed none the wiser to this fact as they embarked on a night out at Jerrabomberra ...continue reading
Smuggling Contraband Charges Result After Men Allegedly Try to Toss a Tennis Ball Stuffed with Drugs Over Prison Fence
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh. Stuck in the confines of a correctional facility, where the comfort of contraband is a mere figment of the imagination, there are no means too extreme or absurd for the prisoner who is desperate to get their hands on prohibited items. From alcohol and drugs, to cigarettes and ...continue reading