Exceptional Circumstances

Exceptional Circumstances and Bail

If you are charged with a Schedule 1 offence, the onus is on you to satisfy the bail decision maker that ‘Exceptional Circumstances‘ exist to justify granting bail to the accused.

Whereas ‘Show Compelling Reasons’ is an expression that was introduced into the amendments made to the Bail Act 1977 (Vic) in May 2018, the threshold for ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ has been present for a long time. 

Exceptional Circumstances are not specifically defined, however, it is the highest threshold that a person applying for bail must achieve. 

What is a Schedule 1 Offence?

  1. Treason
  2. Murder
  3. A Schedule 2 offence that is alleged to have been committed by the accused –
    1. while on bail for any Schedule 1 offence or Schedule 2 offence; or
    2. while subject to a summons to answer to a charge for any Schedule 1 offence or Schedule 2 offence; or
    3. while at large awaiting trial for any Schedule 1 offence or Schedule 2 offence; or
    4. during the period of a community correction order made in respect of the accused for any Schedule 1 offence or Schedule 2 offence or while otherwise serving a sentence for any such offence; or
    5. while released under a parole order made in respect of any Schedule 1 offence or Schedule 2 offence.
  4. An offence against section 77B of the Crimes Act 1958 (aggravated home invasion).
  5. An offence against section 79A of the Crimes Act 1958 (aggravated carjacking).
  6. An offence against any of the following provisions of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 
    1. section 71 (trafficking in a quantity of a drug or drugs of dependence that is not less than the large commercial quantity applicable to that drug or those drugs);
    2. section 71AA (trafficking in a quantity of a drug or drugs of dependence that is not less than the commercial quantity applicable to that drug or those drugs);
    3. section 72 (cultivation of a narcotic plant in a quantity of a drug of dependence, being a narcotic plant, that is not less than the large commercial quantity applicable to that narcotic plant);
    4. section 72A (cultivation of a narcotic plant in a quantity of a drug of dependence, being a narcotic plant, that is not less than the commercial quantity applicable to that narcotic plant);
    5. section 79(1) (conspiracy) in circumstances where the conspiracy is to commit an offence referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
    6. An offence against any of the following provisions of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (as in force immediately before the commencement of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (Amendment) Act 2001 )—
    7. section 71(1) (trafficking in a drug of dependence) in circumstances where the offence is committed in relation to a quantity of a drug of dependence that is not less than the commercial quantity applicable to that drug of dependence;
    8. section 72(1) (cultivation of narcotic plants) in circumstances where the offence is committed in relation to a quantity of a drug of dependence, being a narcotic plant, that is not less than the commercial quantity applicable to that narcotic plant;
    9. section 79(1) (conspiracy) in circumstances where the conspiracy is to commit an offence referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).
  7. An offence against section 302.2, 302.3, 303.4, 303.5, 304.1, 304.2, 305.3 or 305.4 of the Criminal Code of the Commonwealth in circumstances where the offence is committed in relation to a substance in respect of a quantity that is not less than the commercial quantity (as defined in section 70(1) of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981) applicable to the drug of dependence as defined in that Act constituted by that substance.
  8. An offence against section 307.1, 307.2, 307.5, 307.6, 307.8 or 307.9 of the Criminal Code of the Commonwealth in circumstances where the offence is committed in relation to a substance in respect of a quantity that is not less than the commercial quantity (as defined in section 70(1) of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 ) applicable to the drug of dependence as defined in that Act constituted by that substance.
  9. An offence under section 231(1), 233A or 233B(1) of the Customs Act 1901 of the Commonwealth (as in force immediately before the commencement of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Act 2005 of the Commonwealth) in circumstances where the offence is committed in relation to narcotic goods within the meaning of that Act in respect of a quantity that is not less than the commercial quantity (as defined in section 70(1) of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 applicable to the drug of dependence as defined in that Act constituted by those narcotic goods.
  10. An offence against section 4B(1) or 21W of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003 .
  11. An offence of conspiracy to commit, incitement to commit or attempting to commit an offence referred to in any other item of this Schedule.

Offences under the Customs Act 1901 (Cth)

  1. Assembly for unlawful purposes where two or more assemble with the intention of importing or smuggling prohibited goods, or assemble to prevent the seizure, or rescuing after seizure, of any prohibited imports or smuggled goods (section 231(1) Customs Act 1901 (Cth).
  2. The master of a ship or the pilot of an aircraft, intentionally use the ship or aircraft to smuggle, import or export any goods in contravention of the Customs Act (section 233A Customs Act 1901 (Cth)).
  3. Section 233B(1) of the Customs Act as it was in force until 6 December 2005 when the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Act 2005 (Cth) commenced and repealed section 233B. An offence under section 233B(1) will only be a Schedule 1 offence where the offence is committed in relation to a commercial quantity of narcotic goods.

This flow chart illustrates the key points a bail decision maker should consider when determining the application for bail for a person charged with a schedule 1 offence:

Examples of Clients Granted Bail in Exceptional Circumstances