What are the Defences and Penalties for Being Armed With an Offensive Weapon in NSW?
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh Anger is an emotion that is able to make us react in various ways. Sometimes, it arrives in a quick flash, momentarily causing our heart rate to increase in irritation before shortly fleeting, like when people refuse to follow directions. At other times, where boundaries are crossed, it can ...continue reading
New NSW Sentencing Penalty Introduced: The New ‘Intensive Corrections Orders’
On 24 October 2017, Parliament in NSW assented to the amending legislation which effectively changed the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW). As of 24 September 2018, three major new sentencing options were introduced into NSW. A Magistrate or Judge can now impose any one of these new sentencing or penalty options for traffic ...continue reading
New Sentencing Option Introduced in NSW: ‘Community Correction Orders’
Our previous blog outlined how the ‘section 10 bond’ has now replaced the new ‘conditional release order’ as a new sentencing option in NSW for criminal and traffic offences. This blog outlines a further new sentencing option called a ‘community corrections order’ which effectively replaces the old ‘section 9 bond’ and ‘community service order’ penalties, ...continue reading
The End of ‘Section 10 Bonds’ in NSW as a Sentencing Option
The Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) reflects the law behind all the sentencing options a Magistrates or Judges can impose on a person guilty of a NSW criminal or traffic offence. That Law has now changed and the new NSW sentencing penalties or options commence from today 24 September 2018 onwards. The popular ...continue reading
What is an Affray and its Penalty in NSW?
What is Affray in NSW? Unlike assault charges, including common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm, which are considered offences against individuals, affray is a more serious type of charge carrying a maximum term of up to 10 years imprisonment, and is considered an offence against the public order to ...continue reading
Can You Refuse to Give a DNA Sample to Police?
By Jimmy Singh and Fahim Khan Australian criminal law can be complex to understand, especially when it’s concerning police rights regarding when they can and can’t carry out intrusive tests on your body. Generally, DNA samples are considered to be more effective at solving crimes than fingerprints. DNA samples are considered to be very effective ...continue reading
Can You Refuse to Give Evidence in Court Against a Family Member?
By Jimmy Singh & Tayla Regan Imagine being compelled by the courts to give evidence against your mum, dad, brother or sister. Regardless of the court outcome, consider the kind of potential damage this can cause to the relationship. To avoid undue hardship of a witness and to protect the family unit, in some situations ...continue reading
The Law on Stalking and Intimidating Charges
By Jimmy Singh & Tayla Regan The Case of McIlwraith v R [2017] NSWCCA 13 On 18 June 2014, the offender entered properties in Baltic St, Fairlight. He was later arrested and charged with break and enter and stealing charges. He faced a further charge of breaking and entering a house whilst being armed with ...continue reading
The Law on Mandatory Life Sentences in NSW
By Jimmy Singh and Tayla Regan If a life imprisonment is given by the court, it means the offender will remain in prison until the day of his or her death. He or she can entertain no hope or expectation of ever being released. Release can be ordered in very rare circumstances by the executive ...continue reading
The Law on Getting Bail When Charged by Police
By Jimmy Singh and Tayla Regan What is Bail? Where police charge you for a criminal offence, you become accused of an alleged offence. As a result, the Bail Act 2013 (NSW) is engaged, and a bail process starts. This means that, depending on the allegation or criminal charge, you will either be put into ...continue reading