How to Make a Spent Conviction Application In March 2021, the Victorian Parliament passed the Spent Conviction Act 2021 (Vic). This Act will come into operation in 2021, although the exact date is not set at this point. The spent...
Spent Convictions – Finally Here The Victorian parliament recently passed the Spent Convictions Bill 2021 (Vic) (‘the Spent Convictions Bill’). The Spent Convictions Bill gives people who have been found guilty of criminal offences an opportunity to avoid that finding...
Not Every Allegation is True – Wrongful Convictions “Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.”1 – Sir William Blackstone SL KC It is an inherent and possibly incurable flaw of every criminal justice system...
Beyond Reasonable Doubt and the Rush to Judgement In the past when our community was less secular and strong Christian values were more universally and widely held, it was not uncommon that jurors would be reluctant to or refuse to...
What are the Consequences of Being Found Guilty of a Crime? I often see self-represented people accused of criminal offending in the Magistrates’ Court. They appear bewildered and stressed as they try to work out who to see about their...
Written by Annamiek Van Loon, Lawyer, Doogue + George Defence Lawyers If you go to court and are sentenced but a non conviction is recorded (for example, you might hear “without conviction you are sentenced to a 9-month good behaviour...
Written by Bill Doogue. Partner, Doogue + George Defence Lawyers. Kyle McDonald recently posted a blog covering diversion and police discretion to prosecute. It is, as ever with Kyle, a well-researched and interesting analysis of the issues involved. This is a...
I’m going to weigh in on the recent kerfuffle about boxer Mike Tyson coming to Australia next month to head up a motivational speaking tour. Let’s talk about Mike Tyson. And his background. Because, the back-story is always relevant in...
