When can I be strip-searched?
Strip-searching is one of the most invasive intrusions of privacy. It should therefore only be undertaken in rare circumstances, when there are no other alternatives. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. In Broken Hill in 2011, several NSW police officers...
Drug Addiction and Crime Affects People From All Backgrounds
The stereotypical drug addict is usually depicted as being from a low income or disadvantaged background, but drug addiction is far more widespread than that and affects people from all walks of life. Drug addiction also unfortunately often leads to...
Drug and Alcohol Programs for Inmates at Cessnock Jail
Drug and alcohol problems can be a significant contributor to levels of offending, and many jails in NSW recognise this and provide support and rehabilitation programs for inmates who suffer from addictions. If you know someone who has a substance...
Successful District Court Severity Appeals for Drug Possession Charges
Two young men and one young woman who pleaded ‘guilty’ in Deniliquin Local Court to numerous charges of ‘drug possession’ have had their convictions overturned on appeal to Downing Centre District Court. The charges arose after police applied for a...
What Does the Law Say About Stolen Dogs in Sydney?
Perhaps professional dognapping is not the first thing that springs to mind if you were to imagine embarking on a life of crime. But stealing people’s pets for financial gain, or for dog baiting is not unheard of, and has...
Caught in Possession of Drugs? What Now?
The last decade has seen a rise in the number of police officers deployed at festivals and events across NSW. The sight of sniffer dogs at live music events is commonplace, and the annual Nimbin Mardi Grass festival, which was...
The Offence of ‘Deemed Drug Supply’ in New South Wales
If you are found in possession of more than a certain quantity of drugs, you can be charged with deemed supply, even if you did not actually supply the drugs to anyone else and had no intention of doing so....
Recent Sydney Drug Sentencing Success Stories
What are the odds that a man caught supplying 1000 ecstasy tablets and 79 grams of ice will soon be seeing the world from behind bars? If you think they are fairly high, the results of his case may surprise...
Can I Avoid a Conviction if I Plead Guilty to a Serious Drug Charge? R v Mauger
We all make bad decisions from time to time, but when it comes to breaking the law, poor judgment could land you in front of a District Court Judge facing potential time behind bars. The defendant in R v Mauger knows this...
Drug Possession Charge Thrown Out Due to Illegal Search
The Presiding Magistrate in Downing Centre Local Court dismissed charges of ‘drug possession‘ against our 29 year old client after police searched his car illegally. Our client was pulled over after he allegedly exceeded the speed limit and drove ‘recklessly’....