The majority of criminal matters in Victoria start and remain in the Magistrates’ Court. They are referred to as summary matters and incorporate a range of offences from driving offences, theft, drug offences and minor violent offences. Summary Stream matters...
The criminal justice system is complex and can be confusing. If you are charged with a serious indictable offence, your matter will commence in the Magistrates’ Court and may conclude in a higher jurisdiction, such as the County Court or Supreme Court. There are...
What is a Community Corrections Order (CCO)? A community corrections order (‘CCO’) is an order that allows you to serve your sentence in the community. In the hierarchy of sentencing options available to a Judge or Magistrate, a Community Corrections Order is a more...
Diversion is a process by which a person charged with a relatively low-level offence can avoid a criminal record by going through the Diversion Program. This program requires you to take responsibility for the offending but does not thereafter impose any criminal...
If you are a person of interest to police or have been charged with a crime, chances are that they will want your fingerprints and DNA. Over the past few years, their power to take these from you has increased. Here is what you need to know courtesy of our criminal...
