Justice Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution are gaining attention in the Queensland criminal justice system. Police officers, prosecutors, victims of crime and accused persons are increasingly aware of the benefits offered by mediation. What is Restorative Justice Mediation?
If have not yet been arrested or charged with a criminal offence, but are under investigation by police, you have certain rights that must be met by the police.
These rights may vary depending on the nature of the investigation and the evidence to be obtained.
Section 315A of the Criminal Code makes it a criminal offence to “choke”, “strangle”, or “suffocate” a person in a domestic setting. It carries a maximum penalty of 7 years’ imprisonment.
The offence was introduced by the Palaszczuk Government on 5 May 2016 following a recommendation made by the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland.
The Criminal Code does not provide a definition of ‘chokes, suffocates or strangles’ and there has been uncertainty about what level of conduct is required to fall within the provision. For instance, is external compression on the throat or windpipe sufficient, or does the complainant’s breathing need to be affected?
Written by Rebecca Fogerty, this article was published in the September 2019 edition of Proctor. The Universal Right to Plead One’s Case Our criminal justice system has been long criticised for how it deals with sexual crimes. A maxim for activists in this area is to “believe victims”. This is important in the therapeutic realm […]
Rebecca Fogerty and Julia Jasper have been named again in the 2019 Doyle’s Guide to Leading Lawyers in Queensland. Rebecca Fogerty was named as a Leading Queensland Criminal Lawyer and a Leading Queensland Traffic Lawyer. Julia Jasper was named as a Recommended Queensland Criminal Lawyer and a Recommended Queensland Traffic Lawyer. Jasper Fogerty Lawers was […]
New rules now apply to Special Hardship Orders.
What is a Special Hardship Order? A Special Hardship Order is an order granted by the court that allows a suspended driver on a provisional or open licence to continue driving under restrictions. It is not the same as a work licence and the eligibility requirements are different.
A Special Hardship Order will only be granted if you can …
The defence of “mistake of fact” has been in the news lately. Various commentators have argued that the law, in the context of rape and sexual assault offences, should be abolished.
It must be said that there is considerable confusion about the ‘mistake of fact’ defence in Queensland, even among those who oppose its abolition.
The defence is contained in section 24 of the Criminal Code. It applies to all criminal offences, not just rape.
Following a review by the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, in February 2019 the Queensland government introduced new laws to widen the definition of murder. Previously, in order to convict a person of murder, the prosecution had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused person both acted and intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm. The new changes mean that a person may be convicted of murder if their actions were “recklessly indifferent to life”.
Peter Dutton, the Home Affairs Minister, is seeking support from the states and territories for a national sex offender database.
The problem with the proposal is that it won’t work. It won’t keep children safer. It will cost a lot of money for very little net benefit to the community.
If you are about to be charged with an offence, or are under investigation by the police, you will almost certainly be asked if you wish to have a formal police interview.
Whether or not you speak to the police is a fundamental issue. Cases are often won or lost depending on whether a person participated in a record of interview.