ODPP New South Wales Prosecution Guidelines MARCH 2021 odpp.nsw.gov.au
Contents Chapter 1. The decision to prosecute 8 1.1. Introduction 1.2. The tests for deciding whether to prosecute 1.3. Prospects of conviction 8 1.4 Public interest 9 1.5. Factors not relevant to the prosecution decision 10 1.6 Children 11 1.7. Discontinuing a prosecution 11 1.8. Retrials 11 1.9. Reconsidering a prosecution decision 12 8 8 Chapter 2. The role of the prosecutor 13 2.1 Introduction 13 2.2. General principles 13 2.3. The role of the prosecutor in trials and summary hearings 14 2.4. The role of the prosecutor in sentencing 16 Chapter 3. Selecting charges 18 3.1. Introduction 18 3.2. Charge selection 18 3.3. ex officio charges 18 3.4. Finding a bill of indictment 19 Chapter 4. Charge resolution 20 4.1. Introduction 20 4.2. Why charge resolution is important 20 4.3. When is it appropriate that charge resolution occur 20 4.4. Statement of agreed facts 21 4.5. Taking offences into account - Form 1 offences 21 4.6. Unrepresented accused 22 Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions 2
Prosecution Guidelines Table of Contents Chapter 5. Victims and witnesses 24 5.1 Introduction 24 5.2. New South Wales Charter of Victims' Rights 24 5.3. Communicating with victims: general principles 24 5.4. Information to be provided 24 5.5. Additional obligations to victims and other prosecution witnesses 26 5.6. Consultation resolving charges and discontinuing prosecutions 26 5.7. Referring matters to the Witness Assistance Service (WAS) 27 5.8. Conferences 28 5.9. Victim Impact Statements 28 5.10. Domestic violence offences 28 5.11. Complaints and reviews 30 Chapter 6. Elections 31 6.1. Introduction 31 6.2. Elections to proceed on indictment 31 Chapter 7. Taking over proceedings 32 7.1. Introduction 32 7.2. Taking over proceedings commenced by Police 32 7.3. Taking over proceedings commenced by a private prosecutor 32 Chapter 8. Mental illness 34 8.1. Introduction 34 8.2. The decision to prosecute 34 8.3. Diversion of matters dealt with in the Local Court or Children's Court 34 8.4. Fitness and special hearings 34 8.5. Agreeing to the entry of a special verdict 34 Chapter 9. Juries and judge alone trials 35 9.1 Introduction 35 9.2. Jury selection 35 9.3. Judge alone trials 35 Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions 3