Police & Criminal Law

State Case Lists

A daily list of the cases to be heard in these State Courts. The list is updated late in the day if you wish to check the list for the following day.

• Brisbane
• Brisbane - Arrest Court
• Beenleigh
• Cairns
• Ipswich
• Rockhampton
• Southport
• Townsville

Other Locations

• Bundaberg
• Emerald
• Gladstone
• Hervey Bay
• Mackay
• Maroochydore
• Mount Isa
• Stanthorpe
• Toowoomba

• Brisbane Magistrates Court

A | B | C| D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K| L | M |

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Types of Crime

Summary Offences

• Charges are tried by a magistrate in the Magistrates Court
• Less serious offences than those tried by a judge and jury ("indictable offences")
• Penalties are less severe
• You cannot insist on a jury trial

Examples of Summary Offences are Drink Driving, smoking marijuana, offensive conduct or language

Indictable Offences

• Charges are tried by a judge and jury
• Extremely serious charges such as murder are tried in the Supreme Court
• Other indictable offences are heard in the District Court
• There is no time limit for when charges must be laid for an indictable offence

Examples of Indictable Offences are murder, robbery, malicious wounding and dangerous driving.

Your Rights, Criminal Law Basics

1. You are innocent until proven guilty.
2. The prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
3. Silence can rarely be used to suggest guilt.
4. A person who has been acquitted cannot be tried again for the same offence. (the double jeopardy rule)
5. A person charged with a summary offence t may ask the police for further details of the charges (for example; where, when and how the police claim the offence occurred).
6. If the police fail to provide these details, then the Court must either adjourn the charge until they are supplied, or dismiss the charge.
7. A request for particulars should be made in writing at least 14 days before the hearing.

Dealings With Police by Legal Aid has information on topics such as arrest, search and seizure and the questions you must answer for the police.

Common Types of Crimes

Assault

Can include threats (real) of violence or where a victim is struck without their consent. More serious kinds of assault carry bigger penalties.

Stealing

Can include instances where you find something and keep it, "borrowing" money without consent, receiving stolen property and obtaining money or goods by false pretences (usually telling lies).

A person charged with shoplifting can be searched by a police officer.

Store staff who believe on reasonable grounds that somebody has stolen from the store can detain the suspect until the police arrive.

Shoplifting is usually punished by a fine, but repeated offences may lead to a jail sentence.

Applying for Legal Aid

• Application for legal aid form
• Can I get legal aid? - Means and merit test
• Special circumstances guidelines
• Legal Aid Duty Lawyers - a Legal Aid duty solicitor is often available at the Courts.

Acts, Regulations, Rules & Forms

Are you looking for detailed information like this, or contact details for any of the bodies mentioned on this page. If so, then start on our Criminal Law for Lawyers page.

If it isn't there, then start on our Finding Detailed Legal Information page.

Please read our warning on that page "Be careful using these resources".

The Law is not always as straightforward as it appears. We have not included any information about when and how to use that information or any traps. We assume that the Lawyers will know this.

Have you been a Victim Of Crime?

If you have been the victim of a crime, then you may be eligible for assistance fromSupport Services for Victims of Crime

For information on Victim Assist Queensland and referral to support services for victims of crime Call Victims LinkUp on 1300 LINKUP (1300 546 587) 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday (not including public holidays)

victimslinkup@justice.qld.gov.au
Fax: (07) 3109 1901

Legal Aid information for Victims of Crime

You may also have other legal rights against the offender. For this you will need to see a lawyer.

Avoiding Trouble

• If the police suspect you of having committed an offence, do not consent or agree for the police to do anything without speaking to your lawyer first.
• The same applies to answering questions, participating in a record of interview or appearing in an identification parade. You must though give your name and address and, in some cases, information about the identity of the driver/owner of a vehicle.
• When the police say they just want to ask a couple of questions to eliminate you from their enquiries or to clear something up - that is often not what they really have in mind.
• The Prosecutor decides whether to drop criminal charges, not the victim.
• Be polite and respectful of the police.
• If stopped by the police, stay calm and in control of your words, body language, and emotions.
• Don't resist a police officer, even if you think you are innocent.

Qld Police Force

www.police.qld.gov.au

Emergency 000

Police Headquarters
200 Roma Street
Brisbane Qld 4000

GPO Box 1440
Brisbane Qld 4001 

Telephone: (07) 3364 6464
Fax: (07) 3236 2359
TTY: +61 7 3364 4655

• Contact details
  

Australian Federal Police

www.afp.gov.au

Ph: (02) 9286 4000

Gold Coast

69 Laver Drive
Robina QLD 4226

PO Box 3997
Robina Town Centre QLD 4230

Ph: (07) 5553 8777
Fax: (07) 5553 8747

Cairns Office

110 McLeod Street
Cairns Qld 4870

PO Box 844
Cairns QLD 4870

Ph: (07) 4044 6600
Fax: (07) 4044 6680

• Departments and Units

Sentencing

Often it can be hard to understand why a penalty seems to be too light or too hard when we read or hear about it in the media.

Judge for yourself: A Guide to Sentencing in Australia explains in plain English what goes on in the background in deciding the appropriate sentence.

What factors does the court take into account? How much discretion does the judicial officer have? To what extent is the discretion limited? Why is a particular penalty chosen? Why a non-custodial sentence rather than imprisonment? Why a minimum sentence of three years for a bashing rather than, say, ten years? Is the sentence going to be effective? How will we know?

Prisons and Prisoners

• Correctional Centres
• Visitors Information - lawyers & family

Character references

A character reference helps to show the court that people in your daily life think highly of you and that you are a person of good character.

It shows the court that you have good qualities, are not likely to offend again if given a second chance and that a more lenient penalty (sentence) may be appropriate.

• Character and other references (Note: discuss any special reasons why a conviction should not be recorded. This is similar to a "spent conviction order" referred to in this WA article)