What are the 2 primary purposes of diversion?
What are the 3 secondary purposes of diversion?
Can you offer diversion if you have insufficient to charge?
• diversion is not an option if there is insufficient evidence to proceed with charge.
What happens if defendant does not complete diversion?
When is diversion appropriate?
• Entered a guilty plea but have not been convicted
• Not entered a plea, but have acknowledged guilt and accepted full responsibility by admitting and showing remorse.
• First time offender, so they can avoid conviction
• In some cases it may be appropriate to offer diversion to persons with previous youth convictions, past convictions or previous diversion when:
1. Current offending is caused by underlying problem likely to respond to counselling.
2. Direct or indirect consequences of conviction would be out of proportion to the seriousness of the offence.
3. The offender’s previous court outcomes were over five years ago
• Summary offences or indictable offences that are triable summarily.
• Traffic offences laid as a TON, such as careless, reckless.
When is diversion not appropriate?
What must diversion conditions be? (3)
Conditions must be Proportionate, Achievable and Appropriate to the offence.
Can children and young persons be dealt with through the adult diversion scheme?
• CYP under 17 who are offenders should be dealt with under the CYPF Act 1989
What are some aggravating factors, that may prevent offender from getting diversion
Mitigating factors for diversion
What is the Criminal Records Act 2004 “clean slate?”
• Individuals with less serious convictions who have been conviction free for (in most cases) at least seven years, to put their past behind them.
Which drug offences are/aren’t eligible for diversion?
Do not consider for Class A or B, however may consider for small amount of cannabis oil (B), needles, utensils, or cultivating cannabis (C)
Under the evidence act 2006, what is a ‘witness’?
EVIDENCE ACT 2006 S.4
• ‘Witness’ means a person who gives evidence and is able to be cross-examined in a proceeding .
Define a ‘child complainant’:
Child complainant, in relation to any proceeding means a complainant who is a child when the proceeding commences.
What can judge do, on his own initiative or application of either party, in terms of giving evidence (S.103 Evidence Act)?
• In any proceeding the judge may, either of application of a party or on judges own initiative, direct witness to give evidence in chief and be cross examined in the ordinary way or in an alternative way as provided by S.105
What must the JUDGE have regard to?
Who does this apply to (give evidence in alternate way)
What must PROSECUTOR do, if person is giving evidence in an alternative way?
Must apply to court for direction on how child complainant give evidence
Under S.105 Evidence Act, what alternative ways can evidence be given?
What does S.90 Evidence Act allow a witness to do before giving evidence
• S.90 Evidence Act - witness may refresh their memory from any signed statement made by them before giving evidence and entering court room. (Includes Police)
What must you advise witnesses in the courtroom?w
Must advise them not to talk to other witnesses about their evidence while waiting
Under S.168 Summary Proceedings Act, when must the prosecutor file formal written statements
• Must be filed together with exhibits referred to in the statements, no later than 42 days after:
What is a ‘formal written statement’
* Contains statement at end “everything is true and correct…”
If statement is made by person under 18, what must it contain
They must state how old they are in the statement