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 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
The Law on Making False Accusations
By Jimmy Singh and Tayla Regan What if a neighbour or ex-partner makes very serious, untruthful claims about you to the police? What if he or she has done this with a sinister ulterior motive, resulting in a criminal charge or an AVO against you? People have made false accusations in the past for various ...continue reading
The Law on Larceny Charges
By Jimmy Singh and Tayla Regan New technology has now been a cause for spike in shoplifting or larceny charges. Some people would not consider it a crime to scan an expensive item as a cheap fruit in order to save some extra dollars. You’re still paying for an item right? ANU Criminologist Emmeline Taylor ...continue reading
New Laws on The Right to Silence for Criminal Offences
By Jimmy Singh and Tayla Regan Say for instance you have been arrested for a crime, taken to the police station, and offered to participate in an interview with the police. Can you refuse to give an interview with police without your silence being used against you later? Can your silence amount to a consciousness ...continue reading
Can You be Responsible for a Crime Committed by Another?
Where you encourage or assist in a crime, you will be seen and punished, under the law, as the same as the person(s) who actually committed the crime. This applies regardless of the fact that the crime committed was not the specific crime which was intended should be committed. This also applies even if you ...continue reading
When Can Police Take Your Phone?
NSW Police are often seizing mobile phones (and other items) from people suspected of crimes, including those that are bystanders, who record an incident which they are not even involved in. The digital era, with the regular use of smart phones, which allow people to record footage and photos wherever and whenever, has resulted in ...continue reading
NSW Government Passes Laws to Encourage Early Guilty Pleas
73% of criminal cases result in the accused pleading guilty to serious criminal charges. 23% of people accused of a serious criminal offence are entering a guilty plea at a late stage of the case. Particularly on the day of trial in the District Court. For serious criminal cases, from when a case starts in ...continue reading
The Difference Between Summary, Indictable & Strictly Indictable Offences
There are two types of main charges in NSW labelled as “indictable offences”, and “summary offences”. The period of time your case will take in court to finalise, whether police are still allowed to prosecute you for an offence that occurred more than 6 months ago, and the seriousness of the penalties you are faced ...continue reading