ICAC Investigates Senior Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen: Justifiable Investigation or Witchhunt?
Last Thursday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announced that it would begin an investigation into the conduct of deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, following allegations that she attempted to “pervert the course of justice.” The allegations surfaced after...
The Hidden Costs of Going to Court – Court Costs and Victim’s Support Levies
It is understandable that people facing criminal charges are ordinarily anxious about the impact those proceedings may have on their liberty and future. What everyone may not know is that those who are guilty of a criminal offence will normally...
NSW Police Officers Charged Over Shooting
Four NSW police officers have been charged with perjury and giving false evidence after they allegedly lied under oath during a Police Integrity Commission (PIC) inquiry into the shooting of a mentally ill man by police five years ago. 36-year-old...
Police frustrated by ‘tap and go’ credit cards
Contactless payment systems are available at an increasing number of retailers, and make shopping faster and easier. ‘Tap and go’ credit and debit card systems are becoming incredibly popular in Australia, accounting for almost half of all face-to-face card transactions....
Are Special Domestic Violence Courts a Good Idea?
According to media reports, NSW Labor has promised to set up specialised domestic violence courts if the party is elected to power in the next state election. With much recent publicity surrounding the rates of domestic violence in Australia, police...
What Constitutes the Offence of Blackmail?
In 2011, one HSC student made headlines because an intruder into her family hope had strapped a device she was told was a bomb strapped to her neck in an attempt to blackmail her wealthy parents for money. The man...
What Happens if I Commit a Crime Overseas?
Breaking the law while overseas can still get you into trouble, even if you don’t know what the local law is! Just like in Australia, ignorance of the law is generally not an excuse. During a holiday in Thailand, an...
Previous Convictions for Gay Sex to be Expunged in NSW
Thirty years after the decriminalisation of homosexuality, those convicted under out-dated laws are going to be able to apply to have their convictions expunged. Victoria recently announced that it was going to remove all historic convictions from those who were...
Do Serco Prisons Encourage Reoffending?
Being incarcerated is a serious penalty and although it is intended to act as a deterrent to crime, statistics from the Australian Institute of Criminology have shown that there is a strong rate of reoffending by inmates after they have...
Why are suspended sentences increasing the prison population?
Suspended sentences were reintroduced into NSW in the year 2000. A suspended sentence is actually a good behaviour bond under section 12 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. You will only be eligible for a suspended sentence is you...
