(1) This Chapter applies to or in respect of proceedings for summary offences, including proceedings for indictable offences that are being dealt with summarily.(2) Parts 2 and 3 apply to the following proceedings:(a) proceedings before the Local Court,(b) (Repealed)(c) proceedings before an Industrial Magistrate,(d) (Repealed)(e) any other proceedings prescribed by the regulations.(2A) Part 4 applies to the following proceedings:(a) proceedings before the Local Court,(b) proceedings before the District Court,(c) proceedings before the Supreme Court,(d) proceedings before an Industrial Magistrate,(e) (Repealed)(f) any other proceedings prescribed by the regulations.(3) Part 5 applies to the following proceedings:(a) proceedings before the Supreme Court,(b) proceedings before the Industrial Relations Commission in Court Session,(c) proceedings before the Land and Environment Court,(d) proceedings before the Court of Coal Mines Regulation,(e) any other proceedings prescribed by the regulations.
In this Chapter:court means a court to which the relevant provision of this Chapter applies and includes (where applicable) an Industrial Magistrate.
Judge includes a judge of the Supreme Court, the Land and Environment Court and the Court of Coal Mines Regulation and the President or a judicial member of the Industrial Relations Commission and any other person of a class prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.
Magistrate includes an Industrial Magistrate and any other person of a class prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.
registrar means:
(a) in the case of proceedings before the Local Court, the relevant registrar of the Local Court,(b) (Repealed)(c) in the case of proceedings before an Industrial Magistrate, the relevant registrar of the Local Court,(d) (Repealed)(e) in the case of proceedings before any other court to which Parts 2–4 apply, the person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.
Part 2 Trial procedures in lower courts
Division 1 Commencement of proceedings
172 Commencement of proceedings by court attendance notice
(1) Proceedings for an offence are to be commenced in a court by the issue and filing of a court attendance notice in accordance with this Division.(2) A court attendance notice may be issued in respect of a person if the person has committed or is suspected of having committed an offence.(3) A court attendance notice may be issued in respect of any offence for which proceedings may be taken in this State, including an offence committed elsewhere than in this State.
173 Commencement of proceedings by police officer or public officer
If a police officer or public officer is authorised under section 14 of this Act or under any other law to commence proceedings for an offence against a person, the officer may commence the proceedings by issuing a court attendance notice and filing the notice in accordance with this Division.
174 Commencement of private prosecutions
(1) If a person other than a police officer or public officer is authorised under section 14 of this Act or under any other law to commence proceedings for an offence against a person, the person may commence the proceedings by issuing a court attendance notice, signed by a registrar, and filing the notice in accordance with this Division.(2) A registrar must not sign a court attendance notice if:(a) the registrar is of the opinion that the notice does not disclose grounds for the proceedings, or(b) the registrar is of the opinion that the notice is not in the form required by or under this Act, or(c) the registrar is of the opinion that a ground for refusal set out in the rules applies to the notice.(3) If a registrar refuses to sign a court attendance notice proposed to be issued by any such person, the question of whether the court attendance notice is to be signed and issued is to be determined by the court on application by the person.
175 Form of court attendance notice
(1) A court attendance notice must be in writing and be in the form prescribed by the rules.(2) The rules may prescribe one or more forms of court attendance notice.(3) A court attendance notice must do the following:(a) describe the offence,(b) briefly state the particulars of the alleged offence,(c) contain the name of the prosecutor,(d) require the accused person to appear before the court at a specified date, time and place, unless a warrant is issued for the arrest of the person or the person is refused bail,(e) state, unless a warrant is issued for the arrest of the person or the person is refused bail, that failure to appear may result in the arrest of the person or in the matter being dealt with in the absence of the person.(4) The rules may prescribe additional matters to be included in court attendance notices.(5) A court attendance notice may describe an offence, act or other thing in a way that is sufficient under this Act for the purposes of an indictment or an averment in an indictment.
177 Service of court attendance notices
(1) A court attendance notice issued by a police officer must be served by a police officer or prosecutor in accordance with the rules.(2) A court attendance notice issued by a public officer must be served by a police officer, public officer or other person of a class prescribed by the rules, in accordance with the rules.(3) A copy of a court attendance notice issued by a person other than a police officer or a public officer must be served by a person of a class prescribed by the rules in accordance with the rules.(4) A copy of a court attendance notice must be filed in the registry of a court in accordance with the rules.(5) (Repealed)
(1) All proceedings are taken to have commenced on the date on which a court attendance notice is filed in the registry of a relevant court in accordance with this Division.(2) (Repealed)(3) Nothing in this section affects any other Act or law under which proceedings are taken to have been commenced on another date.
179 Time limit for commencement of summary proceedings
(1) Proceedings for a summary offence must be commenced not later than 6 months from when the offence was alleged to have been committed.(2) Subsection (1) does not apply:(a) to an offence for which an Act or law specifies another period within which proceedings must be commenced, or(b) to an indictable offence that is being dealt with summarily, or(c) to an offence involving the death of a person that is or has been the subject of a coronial inquest.(3) Proceedings for a summary offence that relate to the death of a person that is or has been the subject of a coronial inquest must be commenced:(a) not later than 6 months after the conclusion of the inquest, or(b) not later than 2 years from when the offence is alleged to have been committed,whichever occurs first.
180 Relationship to other law or practice
(1) Nothing in this Part affects any law or practice relating to indictments presented or filed in the Supreme Court or the District Court by the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecutions.(2) If an Act or a statutory rule provides for proceedings for an offence which may be taken in a court to be commenced otherwise than by issuing a court attendance notice, the proceedings may be commenced in accordance with this Act.(3) Nothing in this Part affects the operation of the provisions of the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 relating to the commencement of proceedings under that Act.
181 Attendance of accused person at proceedings
(1) A person who issues a court attendance notice may, at any time after the notice is issued and before the date on which the accused person is required to first attend at the court for the hearing of proceedings, apply for a warrant to arrest the accused person.(2) An authorised officer may, when a court attendance notice is issued by the registrar, or filed in the court, or at any time after then and before the matter is first before a court, issue a warrant to arrest the accused person if the authorised officer is satisfied there are substantial reasons to do so and that it is in the interests of justice to do so.(3) The rules may make provision for or with respect to matters that may be taken into account by an authorised officer in determining whether to issue a warrant under this section.(3A) If an accused person is not present at the day, time and place set down for the hearing of proceedings (including any day to which proceedings are adjourned), or absconds from the proceedings, the Magistrate may issue a warrant to arrest the accused person if the Magistrate is satisfied there are substantial reasons to do so and that it is in the interests of justice to do so.(4) A Magistrate or an authorised officer before whom an accused person is brought on arrest on a warrant issued under this section may, if bail is not dispensed with or granted, order the issue of a warrant:(a) committing the accused person to a correctional centre or other place of security, and(b) ordering the accused person to be brought before a court at the date, time and place specified in the order.(5) The Magistrate or authorised officer must give notice of the date, time and place set to the prosecutor. Part 4 of this Chapter sets out procedures for arrest warrants and warrants of commitment generally.
Division 2 Pre-trial procedures
(1) An accused person served with a court attendance notice may lodge with the registrar a notice in writing that the accused person will plead guilty or not guilty to the offence or offences the subject of the court attendance notice concerned.(2) The notice is to be in the form prescribed by the rules and, in the case of a guilty plea, may be accompanied by additional written material containing matters in mitigation of the offence.(3) An accused person who lodges a notice under this section with the registrar not later than 7 days before the date on which the person is required to first attend before the Local Court:(a) is not required to attend the Court on that date, and(b) is taken to have attended the Court on that date.(4) This section does not apply to an accused person who has been granted or refused bail or in relation to whom bail has been dispensed with.
183 Brief of evidence to be served on accused person where not guilty plea
(1) If an accused person pleads not guilty to an offence, the prosecutor must, subject to section 187, serve or cause to be served on the accused person a copy of the brief of evidence relating to the offence.(2) The brief of evidence is, unless the regulations otherwise provide, to consist of documents regarding the evidence that the prosecutor intends to adduce in order to prove the commission of the offence and is to include:(a) written statements taken from the persons the prosecutor intends to call to give evidence in proceedings for the offence, and(b) copies of any document or any other thing, identified in such a written statement as a proposed exhibit.(3) The copy of the brief of evidence is to be served at least 14 days before the hearing of the evidence for the prosecution.(4) The Magistrate may set a later date for service with the consent of the accused person or if of the opinion that the circumstances of the case require it.
(1) Despite section 183, the prosecutor is not required to include a copy of a proposed exhibit identified in the brief of evidence if it is impossible or impractical to copy the exhibit.(2) However, in that case the prosecutor is:(a) to serve on the accused person a notice specifying a reasonable time and place at which the proposed exhibit may be inspected, and(b) to allow the accused person a reasonable opportunity to inspect each proposed exhibit referred to in the notice.
185 Recording of interviews with vulnerable persons
(1) If the prosecutor intends to call a vulnerable person to give evidence in proceedings, the brief of evidence may include a transcript of a recording made by an investigating official of an interview with the vulnerable person, during which the vulnerable person was questioned by the investigating official in connection with the investigation of the commission or possible commission of the offence (as referred to in section 306R).(2) A copy of the transcript of the recording must be certified by an investigating official as an accurate transcript of the recording and served on the accused person in accordance with section 183.(3) A brief of evidence that includes a transcript of a recording of an interview with a vulnerable person is not required also to include a written statement from the vulnerable person concerned.(4) The transcript of the recording is taken, for the purposes of this Division, to be a written statement taken from the vulnerable person. Accordingly, any document or other thing identified in the transcript as a proposed exhibit forms part of the brief of evidence.(5) Nothing in this Division requires the prosecutor to serve on the accused person a copy of the actual recording made by an investigating official of an interview with the vulnerable person.(6) This section does not affect section 306V (2).(7) In this section:investigating official has the same meaning as it has in Part 6 of Chapter 6.
vulnerable person has the same meaning as it has in Part 6 of Chapter 6.
Note. Part 6 of Chapter 6 allows vulnerable persons (children and cognitively impaired persons) to give evidence of a previous representation in the form of a recording made by an investigating official of an interview with the vulnerable person. Section 306V (2) (which is contained in that Part) provides that such evidence is not to be admitted unless the accused person and his or her Australian legal practitioner have been given a reasonable opportunity to listen to or view the recording.
186 Form of copy of brief of evidence
(1) The copy of the brief of evidence is to comply with any requirement applicable to it prescribed by the rules.(2) A written statement contained in the brief of evidence is to comply with this Act and any requirement applicable to it prescribed by the rules.
187 When brief of evidence need not be served
(1) The court may order that all or part of the copy of the brief of evidence need not be served if it is satisfied:(a) that there are compelling reasons for not requiring service, or(b) that it could not reasonably be served on the accused person.(2) The court may make an order under this section on its own initiative or on the application of any party.(3) An order may be made subject to any conditions that the court thinks fit.(4) Without limiting any other power to adjourn proceedings, the court may grant one or more adjournments, if it appears to it to be just and reasonable to do so, if the copy of the brief of evidence is not served in accordance with this Division. For that purpose, the court may extend the time for service of the brief of evidence.(5) A prosecutor is not required to serve a brief of evidence in proceedings for an offence of a kind, or proceedings of a kind, prescribed by the regulations.
188 Evidence not to be admitted
(1) The court must refuse to admit evidence sought to be adduced by the prosecutor in respect of an offence if, in relation to that evidence, this Division or any rules made under this Division have not been complied with by the prosecutor.(2) The court may, and on the application of or with the consent of the accused person must, dispense with the requirements of subsection (1) on such terms and conditions as appear just and reasonable.
(1) A person who made a written statement tendered in evidence in proceedings is guilty of an offence if the statement contains any matter that, at the time the statement was made, the person knew to be false, or did not believe to be true, in any material respect.Maximum penalty:
(a) If the offence is dealt with summarily, 20 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.(b) If the offence is dealt with on indictment, 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years, or both.(2) Chapter 5 (which relates to the summary disposal of certain indictable offences unless an election is made to proceed on indictment) applies to and in respect of an offence under this section.
(1) On the first return date for a court attendance notice in any summary proceedings, or at such later time as the court determines, the court must set the date, time and place for hearing and determining the matter.(2) The court must notify the accused person of the date, time and place, if the accused person is not present.(3) However, if the accused person is not present at the first return date and has not lodged a written plea of not guilty in accordance with section 182, the court may proceed to hear the matter on that day at its discretion.Note. The powers of a court to adjourn proceedings generally are set out in section 40.
191 Proceedings to be open to public
(1) Summary proceedings before a court are to be heard in open court.(2) This section is subject to the provisions of any other Act or law.
192 Procedures where both parties present
(1) If both the accused person and the prosecutor are present at the day, time and place set for the hearing and determination of proceedings for an offence (including a day to which the hearing has been adjourned) the court must proceed to hear and determine the matter.(2) The court must state the substance of the offence to the accused person and ask the accused person if the accused person pleads guilty or not guilty.(3) Instead of hearing and determining the matter, the court may, if it thinks that the matter should not proceed on the specified day, adjourn the hearing to another day for mention or hearing.
193 Procedure if offence admitted
(1) If the accused person pleads guilty, and does not show sufficient cause why he or she should not be convicted or not have an order made against him or her, the court must convict the accused person or make the order accordingly.(2) This section does not apply if the court does not accept the accused person’s guilty plea.
194 Procedure if offence not admitted
(1) If the accused person pleads not guilty or fails or refuses to make a plea or the court does not accept the accused person’s guilty plea, the court must proceed to hear and determine the matter.(2) The court must hear the prosecutor, any witnesses and other evidence of the prosecutor and must hear the accused person and any witnesses and other evidence of the accused person.
(1) A prosecutor may give evidence and may examine and cross-examine the witnesses giving evidence for the prosecution or the accused person, respectively.(2) An accused person may make full answer and defence. An accused person may give evidence and may examine and cross-examine the witnesses giving evidence for the accused person or the prosecution, respectively.(3) If the accused person gives any evidence or examines any witness as to any matter other than as to the witness’s general character, the prosecutor may call and examine witnesses in reply.
196 Procedure if accused person not present
(1) If the accused person is not present at the day, time and place set for the hearing and determination of the matter (including a day to which the hearing has been adjourned), the court may proceed to hear and determine the matter in the absence of the accused person in accordance with this Division.(2) If:(a) a penalty notice enforcement order is annulled under Division 5 of Part 3 of the Fines Act 1996 and the order (together with any annexure) is taken to be a court attendance notice in relation to the offence, and(b) the accused person has been given notice of the hearing of the matter of the court attendance notice, and(c) the accused person does not appear on the day and at the time and place specified by the court attendance notice,the court may proceed to hear and determine the matter in the absence of the accused person in accordance with this Division.(3) The court may not proceed to hear and determine the matter unless it is satisfied that the accused person had reasonable notice of the first return date or the date, time and place of the hearing.(4) If an offence is an indictable offence that may be dealt with summarily only if the accused person consents, the absence of the accused person is taken to be consent to the offence being dealt with summarily and the offence may be dealt with in accordance with this Division.
197 Adjournment when accused person not present
(1) Instead of hearing and determining a matter in the absence of the accused person, the court may, if it thinks that the matter should not proceed on the specified day or without the accused person, adjourn the hearing to another day for mention or for hearing.(2) If a warrant is issued for the arrest of the accused person, the Magistrate or authorised officer before whom the accused person is brought after arrest may specify the date, time and place to which the proceedings are adjourned.Note. The court may at any time issue a warrant for the arrest of an absent accused person (see Division 2 of Part 4 which sets out procedures for warrants).
198 Absent accused person taken to have pleaded not guilty
An accused person in proceedings who is absent from the proceedings and who has not lodged a written plea of guilty in accordance with section 182 is taken to have pleaded not guilty.
199 Material to be considered when matter determined in absence of accused person
(1) The court may determine proceedings heard in the absence of the accused person on the basis of the court attendance notice without hearing the prosecutor’s witnesses or any other additional evidence of the prosecutor, if it is of the opinion that the matters set out in the court attendance notice are sufficient to establish the offence.(2) Before determining the matter, the court must consider any written material given to the court by the prosecutor, or lodged by the accused person under section 182.
200 When court may require prosecution to provide additional evidence
(1) The court may, in proceedings heard in the absence of the accused person, require the prosecution to provide additional evidence if it is of the opinion that the matters set out in the court attendance notice are not sufficient to establish the offence.(2) The additional evidence is not admissible unless:(a) it is in the form of written statements that comply with Division 3 of Part 2 of Chapter 3, and(b) a copy of any such statement has been given to the accused person a reasonable time before consideration of the additional evidence by the court.(3) However, the court may require evidence to be given orally if it is not practicable to comply with subsection (2) or if the court thinks it necessary in the particular case.(4) The court must reject a written statement, or any part of a written statement, tendered in summary proceedings if the statement or part is inadmissible because of this section.
201 Procedure if prosecutor or both parties not present
(1) If the prosecutor is not present, or both the prosecutor and the accused person are not present, at the day, time and place set for the hearing and determination of the matter (including a day to which the hearing has been adjourned) the court must dismiss the information.(2) Despite subsection (1), the court may, if it thinks fit, instead of dismissing the information, adjourn the hearing to a specified day, time and place for mention or hearing.
(1) The court must determine summary proceedings after hearing the accused person, prosecutor, witnesses and evidence in accordance with this Act.(2) The court may determine the matter by convicting the accused person or making an order as to the accused person, or by dismissing the matter.(3) In the case of a matter heard in the absence of the accused person, the court may adjourn the proceedings to enable the accused person to appear or be brought before the court for sentencing.Note. Section 25 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 provides for the issue of warrants of arrest for absent defendants so that they may be brought before the Court for sentencing. Section 62 of that Act also provides for the issue of warrants of commitment after sentencing.
203 Additional powers to adjourn summary proceedings
A court may adjourn summary proceedings before or at any stage of proceedings to enable the matter to be the subject of a mediation session under the Community Justice Centres Act 1983.
204 Record of conviction or order to be made
(1) A court must make a record of any conviction or order made against the accused person in summary proceedings when the accused person is convicted or the order is made.(2) The court must give the accused person a copy of the record on request by the accused person.
205 Order dismissing matter to be made
(1) A court may make an order of dismissal and give the accused person a certificate certifying that a matter has been dismissed if it decides to dismiss the matter.(2) A court must make an order of dismissal and give the accused person a certificate certifying that a matter has been dismissed if requested to do so by an accused person against whom a matter has been dismissed or by the prosecutor.(3) This section does not apply to a matter that is taken to be dismissed because of section 208.
206 Effect of certificate that matter has been dismissed
A certificate certifying that a matter has been dismissed, if produced and without any further proofs being required, prevents any later proceedings in any court for the same matter against the same person.
207 Power to set aside conviction or order before sentence
(1) An accused person may, at any time after conviction or an order has been made against the accused person and before the summary proceedings are finally disposed of, apply to the court to change the accused person’s plea from guilty to not guilty and to have the conviction or order set aside.(2) The court may set aside the conviction or order made against the accused person and proceed to determine the matter on the basis of the plea of not guilty.
208 Dismissal of matter if matter withdrawn
(1) If a matter is withdrawn by the prosecutor, the matter is taken to be dismissed and the accused person is taken to be discharged in relation to the offences concerned.(2) The dismissal of a matter because of its withdrawal by the prosecutor does not prevent any later proceedings in any court for the same matter against the same person.
209 Application of section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999
The provisions of section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 apply to any proceedings heard in the absence of the accused person under this Part as if the accused person had been charged before the court with the offence to which the proceedings relate.
210 Penalties applying to traffic offences committed by children
(1) The Local Court may deal with a child found guilty of a traffic offence in accordance with Division 4 of Part 3 of the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987.(2) In so dealing with a child, the Local Court has and may exercise the functions of the Children’s Court under that Division as if the Local Court were the Children’s Court and the offence were an offence to which the Division applies.(3) The Local Court must not impose a sentence of imprisonment on a child found guilty of a traffic offence.(4) In this section:child means a person who was under 18 years when the traffic offence was committed and under 21 years when summary proceedings for the offence were commenced,
traffic offence means an offence arising under a provision of:
(a) the road transport legislation within the meaning of the Road Transport (General) Act 2005, or(b) the Roads Act 1993, or(c) the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act 1942, or(d) the Recreation Vehicles Act 1983, or(e) the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999,in respect of the use, standing or parking of a motor vehicle within the meaning of that provision.Note. Division 4 of Part 3 of the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 sets out the penalties which the Children’s Court may impose on a child who has been found guilty of a summary offence.
In this Part:professional costs means costs (other than court costs) relating to professional expenses and disbursements (including witnesses’ expenses) in respect of proceedings before a court.
(1) A court may award costs in criminal proceedings only in accordance with this Act.(2) This Act does not affect the payment of costs under the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967.Note. The Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967 contains procedures by which an accused person may obtain payment of costs from Government funds after acquittal or discharge or the quashing of a conviction.
213 When professional costs may be awarded to accused persons
(1) A court may at the end of summary proceedings order that the prosecutor pay professional costs to the registrar of the court, for payment to the accused person, if the matter is dismissed or withdrawn.(2) The amount of professional costs is to be the amount that the Magistrate considers to be just and reasonable.(3) Without limiting the operation of subsection (1), a court may order that the prosecutor in summary proceedings pay professional costs if the matter is dismissed because:(a) the prosecutor fails to appear or both the prosecutor and the accused person fail to appear, or(b) the matter is withdrawn or the proceedings are for any reason invalid.(4) (Repealed)(5) The order must specify the amount of professional costs payable.
214 Limit on award of professional costs to accused person against prosecutor acting in public capacity
(1) Professional costs are not to be awarded in favour of an accused person in summary proceedings unless the court is satisfied as to any one or more of the following:(a) that the investigation into the alleged offence was conducted in an unreasonable or improper manner,(b) that the proceedings were initiated without reasonable cause or in bad faith or were conducted by the prosecutor in an improper manner,(c) that the prosecutor unreasonably failed to investigate (or to investigate properly) any relevant matter of which it was aware or ought reasonably to have been aware and which suggested either that the accused person might not be guilty or that, for any other reason, the proceedings should not have been brought,(d) that, because of other exceptional circumstances relating to the conduct of the proceedings by the prosecutor, it is just and reasonable to award professional costs.(2) This section does not apply to the awarding of costs against a prosecutor acting in a private capacity.(3) An officer of an approved charitable organisation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 is taken not to be acting in a private capacity if the officer acts as the prosecutor in any proceedings under that Act or section 9 (1) of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003.
215 When costs may be awarded to prosecutor
(1) A court may at the end of summary proceedings order that the accused person pay the following costs to the registrar of the court, for payment to the prosecutor, if the accused person is convicted or an order is made against the accused person:(a) such professional costs as the court considers just and reasonable,(b) court costs, to be paid to the registrar for payment to the prosecutor if the costs have been paid by the prosecutor or, if they have not been so paid, to be paid to the registrar of the court.(1A) The court may not order the accused person to pay professional costs referred to in subsection (1) (a) if the conviction or order concerned relates to an offence:(a) for which a penalty notice, within the meaning of section 20 of the Fines Act 1996, has been issued, and(b) in respect of which the person has elected to have the matter dealt with by a court, and(c) in respect of which the person has lodged a written plea of guilty, in accordance with section 182, not later than 7 days before the date on which the person is required to first attend before the court.(1B) Subsection (1A) does not apply in relation to proceedings for an offence against the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000, the regulations under that Act or the associated occupational health and safety legislation within the meaning of that Act.(2) The amount that may be awarded under subsection (1) (b) for court costs is:(a) the filing fee for a court attendance notice, or(b) such other amount as the court considers to be just and reasonable in the circumstances of the case.(3) The order must specify the amount of costs payable.(4) For the purposes of this section, an accused person is taken to have been convicted if an order is made under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. The order for costs may be in the order under that section.(5) This section applies to all summary proceedings, including orders made in proceedings conducted in the absence of the accused person.
(1) A court may in any summary proceedings, at its discretion or on the application of a party, order that one party pay costs if the matter is adjourned.(2) An order may be made only if the court is satisfied that the other party has incurred additional costs because of the unreasonable conduct or delays of the party against whom the order is made.(3) The order must specify the amount of costs payable or may provide for the determination of the amount at the end of the proceedings.(4) An order may be made whatever the result of the proceedings.
217 Enforcement of costs orders
An order made by a court under this Division for the payment of costs is taken to be a fine within the meaning of the Fines Act 1996.
218 Public officers and police officers not personally liable for costs
(1) A public officer or a police officer is entitled to be indemnified by the State for any costs awarded against the officer personally as the prosecutor in any criminal proceedings in a court in which the officer is acting in his or her capacity as a public officer or a police officer.(2) In this section:public officer does not include a councillor or an employee of a council or any other person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
(1) The Rule Committee may make rules for or with respect to the following matters:(a) service of court attendance notices, briefs of evidence and other documents,(b) endorsement of service of court attendance notices and other documents,(c) procedures for adjourning, relisting and notifying accused persons about alternative offences,(d) additional requirements for the form of warrants,(e) the circumstances in which a person may obtain copies of documents relating to criminal proceedings,(f) assessment of costs on adjournment,(g) the form of submissions to a court about disputed costs,(h) forms to be used under this Act.(2) A court may in proceedings for a summary offence, if of the opinion that it is in the interests of justice to do so, dispense with or vary a requirement of the rules.(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Local Court may make directions as to the conduct of proceedings.(4) The power conferred by subsection (2) does not extend to any rule declared by the rules to be mandatory.
Part 3 Attendance of witnesses and production of evidence in lower courts
In addition to any other proceedings to which this Part applies, this Part applies to any proceedings prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
In this Part:party means a prosecutor or an accused person in, or any other party to, proceedings to which this Part applies.
person named in a subpoena means the person to whom the subpoena is addressed.
subpoena includes any of the following:
(a) a subpoena to give evidence,(b) a subpoena for production,(c) a subpoena both to give evidence and for production.subpoena both to give evidence and for production means a written order requiring the person named to attend as directed by the order as a witness to give evidence and to produce a document or thing.
subpoena for production means a written order requiring the person named to attend as directed by the order and produce a document or thing.
subpoena to give evidence means a written order requiring the person named to attend as directed by the order as a witness to give evidence.
(1) A registrar, if requested to do so by a party to proceedings, is, subject to and in accordance with the rules, to issue to the person named any of the following subpoenas:(a) a subpoena to give evidence,(b) a subpoena for production,(c) a subpoena both to give evidence and for production.(2) If the prosecutor in proceedings is a public officer or a police officer, the officer may, subject to and in accordance with the rules, issue any such subpoena. The subpoena is to be filed and served in accordance with the rules.(3) A subpoena to give evidence and a subpoena for production may be issued to the same person in the same proceedings.(4) A party may require a subpoena for production to be returnable:(a) on any day on which the proceedings are listed before a court, or any day not more than 21 days before any such day, or(b) with the leave of the court or a registrar, on any other day.
223 Time for service of subpoenas
(1) A subpoena must be served within a reasonable time and at least 5 days before the last day on which it must be complied with.(2) A registrar may, on application by the party concerned, permit a subpoena to be served later than the time permitted by subsection (1). The later time must be endorsed on the subpoena by the registrar.(3) A subpoena may be served by delivering a copy of the subpoena to the person named or in any other manner prescribed by the rules.
Unless a court otherwise orders, a subpoena issued at the request of a party other than a prosecutor who is a public officer or a police officer is not to require the person named to attend or produce any document or thing on any day on which his or her attendance is required unless an amount prescribed by the rules for the expenses of complying with the subpoena in relation to that day is paid or tendered to the person at the time of service of the subpoena or not later than a reasonable time before that day.
225 Limits on obligations under subpoenas
The person named is not required to produce any document or thing if:(a) it is not specified or sufficiently described in the subpoena, or(b) the person named would not be required to produce the document or thing on a subpoena for production in the Supreme Court.
(1) If the person named in a subpoena for production is not a party to the proceedings, the subpoena is, unless a court otherwise orders, to permit the person to produce the document or thing to the court specified in the subpoena not later than the day before the first day on which the person’s attendance is required, instead of attending and producing the document or thing as required by the subpoena.(2) The rules may make provision for or with respect to the production of documents or things produced to a court under subsection (1), and the return of the document or thing, and any related matters.(3) Nothing in this Part affects the operation of Division 1 of Part 4.6 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Requests to produce documents or call witnesses).
(1) A court may, on application by the person named in a subpoena, set aside the subpoena wholly or in part.(2) Notice of an application under this section is to be filed and served as prescribed by the rules on the party on whose request, or by whom, the subpoena was issued.
228 Inspection of subpoenaed documents and things
(1) A party may, if a court so orders:(a) inspect documents or things produced in compliance with a subpoena, and(b) take copies of any documents so inspected.(2) Any such order may be made on such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit.(3) A registrar may exercise the function of a court to make an order under this section unless:(a) the court otherwise orders, or(b) a party, the person named in the subpoena or a person claiming privilege in respect of the document has notified the court in the manner prescribed by the rules that the party or person objects to the making of an order under this section.
229 Action that may be taken if person does not comply with subpoena
(1) A party who requested, or issued, a subpoena may apply to the court for the issue of a warrant under Part 4 for the arrest of the person named if the person named has not complied with the subpoena.(2) The court may issue the warrant if satisfied that:(a) the person named has not complied with the subpoena, and(b) the requirements of this Part for subpoenas were complied with and no just or reasonable excuse has been offered for the failure to comply.(3) A Magistrate or an authorised officer before whom a person is brought on arrest on a warrant issued under this section may, if bail is not dispensed with or granted, issue a warrant:(a) committing the person to a correctional centre or other place of security, and(b) ordering the person to be brought before a court at the date, time and place specified in the order.(4) The Magistrate or authorised officer must give notice of the date, time and place set to the party who issued or requested the subpoena.Note. Division 2 of Part 4 sets out procedures for arrest warrants generally.
230 Application of Bail Act 1978
The Bail Act 1978 applies to a person who is brought before a court after having been arrested under a warrant referred to in section 229 in the same way as it applies to an accused person, and for that purpose, bail may be granted to the person with respect to the period between:(a) the person’s being brought before a court under a warrant for the purpose of being examined as a witness or producing a document or thing, and(b) the person’s being examined as a witness or producing the document or thing.
231 Action that may be taken if witness refuses to give evidence
(1) This section applies to a person who:(a) appears before a court on a subpoena, or(b) appears before a court on bail after being arrested under a warrant after failing to comply with a subpoena, or(c) is brought before a court under a warrant of commitment after being so arrested,to give evidence, or produce any document or thing, or both.(2) The court may order that a warrant be issued for the committal of a person to whom this section applies to a correctional centre for a period not exceeding 7 days if the person refuses, without offering any just cause or reasonable excuse:(a) to be examined on oath, or(b) to take an oath, or(c) to answer, after having taken an oath, any questions that are put to the person concerning the subject-matter of the proceedings, or(d) to produce the document or thing.Note. Division 3 of Part 4 sets out procedures for warrants of commitment generally.(3) However, the person is to be released before the expiration of those 7 days if the person:(a) consents to be examined on oath and to answer questions concerning the subject-matter of the proceedings, or(b) produces the document or thing.(4) This Part applies in relation to a subpoena to the exclusion of section 194 (Witnesses failing to attend proceedings) of the Evidence Act 1995.(5) In this section, a reference to a person who appears before a court on bail after being arrested under a warrant after failing to comply with a subpoena includes a reference to a person in respect of whom the requirement for bail has been dispensed with after being so apprehended.
232 Rules relating to subpoenas
The Rule Committee may make rules for or with respect to the following matters:(a) the form of subpoenas,(b) the production of documents or things to the registrar and the inspection of the documents or things,(c) the return of subpoenas to parties,(d) conduct money,(e) hearing of objections to subpoenas.
In addition to warrants issued in, or in connection with, proceedings to which this Part applies because of section 170, this Part applies to warrants that may be issued under Part 3.
In this Part:named person means the person named in a warrant.
235 When arrest warrants may be issued for accused persons
A warrant to arrest a person may be issued on any day of the week.
(1) A warrant to arrest a person must be in the form prescribed by the rules.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the warrant must be directed to a person permitted by this Division to execute the warrant and must do the following things:(a) name or describe the person to be arrested,(b) briefly state the subject-matter of the court attendance notice or reason for the arrest,(c) order that the person be arrested and brought before the Judge, Magistrate or authorised officer to be dealt with according to law or to give evidence or produce documents or things, as appropriate.(3) A warrant to arrest a person must be signed by the person issuing it and sealed with the seal of the court to which the person issuing it is attached.(4) However, an authorised officer may sign a warrant issued under this Act if a Judge or Magistrate has directed in writing that the warrant be issued.
237 Duration of arrest warrants
(1) A warrant to arrest an accused person need not be returnable at any particular time. If it is not, the warrant continues in force until it expires.(1A) A warrant to arrest an accused person in respect of an offence specified in the Table below expires at the end of the period specified in the Table in relation to the offence.
Offence
Period
Indictable offences (punishable by imprisonment for life or 25 years or more)
50 years
Indictable offences (punishable by imprisonment for less than 25 years and not less than 5 years)
30 years
Indictable offences not punishable by imprisonment for 5 years or more (where the accused person is not a child)
15 years
Summary offences (where the accused person is not a child)
10 years
Indictable offences not punishable by imprisonment for 5 years or more (where the accused person is a child)
10 years
Summary offences (where the accused person is a child)
5 years
(1B) A warrant issued for the arrest of a convicted person to bring that person before a court for sentencing expires at the end of 30 years after it is issued.(1C) Nothing in subsection (1A) or (1B) prevents a new warrant for arrest from being issued in respect of the same offence or offences as a previous arrest warrant.(2) A warrant to arrest a witness must be returnable at a stated date, time and place.(3) The warrant to arrest a witness may be returned and cancelled, and a further warrant may be obtained, if the witness is not arrested before the warrant must be returned.
238 Persons who may execute arrest warrant
(1) A warrant to arrest a person must be directed to:(a) a named police officer, or(b) a person authorised by law to execute a warrant to arrest, or(c) the senior police officer of the area where the court is located, or(d) the senior police officer and all other police officers, or(e) generally all police officers.(2) A warrant to arrest a person may be carried out by arresting the accused or witness at any place in New South Wales.
A person who is arrested under a warrant must be brought before a Judge, a Magistrate or an authorised officer as soon as practicable.
(1) Any warrant to arrest a person may be revoked by a Judge, Magistrate or authorised officer if:(a) the party who requested the warrant applies to the Judge, Magistrate or authorised officer to revoke the warrant, or(b) the Judge, Magistrate or authorised officer is of the opinion that it is appropriate to do so.(2) A Judge, Magistrate or authorised officer may revoke a warrant even though it was issued by another Judge, Magistrate or authorised officer. A Magistrate may not revoke a warrant issued by a Judge. An authorised officer may not revoke a warrant issued by a Judge or Magistrate.
Division 3 Warrants of commitment
241 Power to commit person to correctional centre subject to Bail Act 1978
A power to issue a warrant to commit a person to a correctional centre or other place under this Act is subject to the provisions of the Bail Act 1978.Note. The Bail Act 1978 sets out the circumstances when bail must or may be granted or may be dispensed with by a Magistrate.
242 Form of warrants of commitment
(1) A warrant to commit a person must be in the form prescribed by the rules.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the warrant must be directed to a person permitted by the rules to execute the warrant and must do the following things:(a) name or describe the person to be committed,(b) direct and authorise the person to take and safely convey the named person to the correctional centre or other place,(c) direct the person to deliver the named person to the officer in charge of the place,(d) direct and authorise the officer in charge of the place to receive the named person in custody and to keep the named person in custody for the period specified, or in the circumstances specified, or until the named person is otherwise lawfully released from custody.(3) A warrant to commit a witness to a correctional centre, lock-up or a place of security must not require the witness to be kept in custody for more than 7 days.(4) An authorised officer may sign a warrant to commit a person if a Judge or Magistrate has directed in writing that the warrant be issued.
243 Procedure for taking person to correctional centre or other place
(1) The person to whom a warrant issued under this Division to commit a person to a correctional centre or other place is directed must take the named person to the correctional centre or other place specified in the warrant and deliver the named person to the person in charge of the place.(2) The person executing the warrant must obtain a receipt for the delivery of the named person setting out the condition of the named person when delivered into the custody of the person in charge.
244 Defects in warrants of commitment
A warrant to commit an accused person to a correctional centre or other place may not be held void because of any defect in the warrant if the warrant states that:(a) the accused person has been convicted or ordered to do or abstain from doing any act or thing required to be done or not done, and(b) there is a good and valid conviction or order to sustain the warrant.
Part 5 Summary jurisdiction of Supreme Court and other higher courts
245 Summary jurisdiction of Supreme Court
(1) If, under any Act, proceedings may be taken before the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction, the Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine those proceedings in a summary manner.(2) The summary jurisdiction conferred on the Supreme Court by subsection (1), or under any other Act on any other court to which this Part applies, is to be exercised by a Judge sitting alone, and not otherwise.Note. Section 170 sets out the courts to which this Part applies.
Division 2 Appearance of accused persons
246 Orders for appearance or apprehension of accused persons
(1) A prosecutor may apply for an order:(a) that a person alleged in the application to have committed an offence that may be dealt with summarily by the court must appear at a time and place specified in the order to answer to the offence charged in the order, or(b) for the apprehension of any such person for the purpose of being brought before a Judge to answer to the offence charged in the order.(2) The application must be in accordance with the rules.(3) The order may be made in the absence of one or both parties.(4) An order for the apprehension of a person may be made whether or not an order has been made under subsection (1) (a).(5) An order for the apprehension of a person:(a) must be addressed to all police officers, and(b) may be addressed to any other person specified in the order, and(c) may be executed by any police officer or by any person to whom it is addressed at any place at which, had the offence specified in the order been committed at that place, that offence would be triable in the court.(6) A Judge before whom a person apprehended under an order made under this section is brought may, if bail is not dispensed with or granted, issue a warrant:(a) committing the person to a correctional centre or other place of security, and(b) ordering the person to be brought before a court at the date, time and place specified in the order.
247 Notices to be given to prosecutor
(1) The registrar must, as soon as practicable after the making of any order under section 246, cause notice of the order to be given to the prosecutor.(2) The registrar must, as soon as practicable after a notice is given or sent (as referred to in section 34 of the Bail Act 1978) to a person referred to in section 246, cause a copy of the notice to be given to the prosecutor.
A Judge is not required to proceed to hear and determine a case if any pre-trial procedures required by the rules to be completed before the trial of the case commences have not been completed.
249 Procedure where prosecutor does not, but accused person does, appear
(1) If the prosecutor does not appear on the day and at the time and place set by an order under Division 2 (or on a day to which a hearing has been adjourned), but the accused person attends, the court, if satisfied that the prosecutor was notified of the day, time and place:(a) must discharge the accused person as to the offence the subject of the proceedings, with or without costs, or(b) if the court thinks it appropriate, adjourn the hearing to a specified time and place.(2) Subsection (1) does not empower the court to order costs to be paid in proceedings for an offence referred to in section 475A of the Crimes Act 1900.(3) Division 4 applies to any award of costs arising from proceedings being dealt with under subsection (1).
250 Procedure where accused person does not obey order to appear
If the accused person does not appear on the day and at the time and place set by an order under Division 2 (or on a day to which a hearing has been adjourned), the court may, if satisfied that the order was served on the accused person:(a) proceed to hear and determine the matter in the absence of the accused person, or(b) if the court thinks the matter should not proceed on that day or without the accused person, adjourn the hearing to a specified time and place and make an order for the apprehension of the accused person under Division 2.
251 Procedure where both parties do not appear
If both the prosecutor and the accused person are not present, on a day and at the time and place to which a hearing has been adjourned, the court may proceed to hear and determine the matter in the absence of the parties.
252 Procedure where both parties appear
If both the prosecutor and the accused person are present on a day and at the time and place set for the hearing and determination of proceedings for a summary offence (including a day, time and place to which a hearing has been adjourned) the court must proceed to hear and determine the matter.
254 Enforcement of fines and orders
The payment of any money ordered by a court exercising summary jurisdiction under this Part to be paid as a penalty or for costs under Division 4 is taken to be a fine within the meaning of the Fines Act 1996.
255 Termination of lower court proceedings on commencement of proceedings under this Part
Any proceedings in a court to which Parts 2–4 apply for an offence for which proceedings may be taken under this Part or before that court are to be terminated on the court being notified, in accordance with the rules, of the commencement of proceedings under this Part for the offence.
256 Effect of conviction under this Part
A conviction under this Part for an offence that is of a kind that may be tried either on indictment or under this Part is taken for all purposes, except the Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001, to be a conviction on indictment.
257 Rules for summary criminal procedure
(1) The Rule Committee may make rules for or with respect to the practice and procedure of a court in the exercise of summary jurisdiction under this Part.(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the rules may make provision for or with respect to:(a) the service of orders under Division 2,(b) pre-trial procedures and related practices,(c) the attendance or apprehension of witnesses,(d) the examination of witnesses on oath, affirmation or declaration,(e) the production by witnesses of books, documents and writings,(f) the execution of warrants for the apprehension of any person,(g) any matter that by this Part is required to be prescribed by rules or that is necessary or convenient for the carrying out of or giving effect to the provisions of this Act relating to the summary jurisdiction of a court.(3) Nothing in this section limits the rule-making powers conferred on the Supreme Court by the Supreme Court Act 1970.
In this Division:professional costs means costs (other than court costs) relating to professional expenses and disbursements (including witnesses’ expenses) in respect of proceedings before a court.
257B When costs may be awarded to prosecutor
A court may, in and by a conviction or order, order an accused person to pay to the registrar of the court, for payment to the prosecutor, such costs as the court specifies or, if the conviction or order directs, as may be determined under section 257G, if:(a) the court convicts the accused person of an offence, or(b) the court makes an order under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 in respect of an offence.
257C When professional costs may be awarded to accused person
(1) A court may at the end of proceedings under this Part order that the prosecutor pay professional costs to the registrar of the court, for payment to the accused person, if the matter is dismissed or withdrawn.(2) The amount of professional costs is to be such professional costs as the court specifies or, if the order directs, as may be determined under section 257G.(3) Without limiting the operation of subsection (1), a court may order that the prosecutor in proceedings under this Part pay professional costs if:(a) the accused person is discharged as to the offence the subject of the proceedings, or(b) the matter is dismissed because the prosecutor fails to appear, or(c) the matter is withdrawn or the proceedings are for any reason invalid.
257D Limit on award of professional costs against a prosecutor acting in a public capacity
(1) Professional costs are not to be awarded in favour of an accused person in proceedings under this Part unless the court is satisfied as to one or more of the following:(a) that the investigation into the alleged offence was conducted in an unreasonable or improper manner,(b) that the proceedings were initiated without reasonable cause or in bad faith or were conducted by the prosecutor in an improper manner,(c) that the prosecutor unreasonably failed to investigate (or to investigate properly) any relevant matter of which it was aware or ought reasonably to have been aware and which suggested either that the accused person might not be guilty or that, for any other reason, the proceedings should not have been brought,(d) that, because of other exceptional circumstances relating to the conduct of the proceedings by the prosecutor, it is just and reasonable to award professional costs.(2) This section:(a) does not apply to the awarding of costs against a prosecutor acting in a private capacity, and(b) does not apply in relation to proceedings for an offence against the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000, the regulations under that Act or the associated occupational health and safety legislation within the meaning of that Act.(3) An officer of an approved charitable organisation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 is taken not to be acting in a private capacity if the officer acts as the prosecutor in any proceedings under that Act or section 9 (1) of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003.
257E Public officers and police officers not personally liable for costs
(1) A public officer or a police officer is entitled to be indemnified by the State for any costs awarded against the officer personally as the prosecutor in any criminal proceedings in a court in which the officer is acting in his or her capacity as a public officer or a police officer.(2) In this section:public officer does not include a councillor or an employee of a council or any other person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
(1) A court may in any proceedings under this Part, at its discretion or on the application of a party, order that one party pay costs if the matter is adjourned.(2) An order may be made only if the court is satisfied that the other party has incurred additional costs because of the unreasonable conduct or delays of the party against whom the order is made.(3) The order must specify the amount of costs payable or may provide for the determination of the amount at the end of the proceedings.(4) An order may be made whatever the result of the proceedings.
The professional or other costs payable by a prosecutor or accused person in accordance with an order directing that the amount of costs is to be determined under this section are to be determined:(a) by agreement between the prosecutor and accused person, or(b) if no such agreement can be reached, in accordance with Division 11 of Part 3.2 of the Legal Profession Act 2004 (with or without modifications prescribed by the regulations).