Resources
Guides & Resources
Plain-English guides to help you understand what's ahead, from your first Court date to writing a reference for a sentencing hearing.
Police and your rights
First court date
What to Expect at Your First Court DateA step-by-step guide to your first appearance in the NSW Local Court, so there are no surprises on the day.Read the guide →Representing Yourself in CourtA plain-English guide to what is actually involved in representing yourself in the NSW Local Court, and where to turn if you cannot afford a lawyer.Read the guide →Subpoenas in NSW Criminal Proceedings ExplainedA plain-English guide to what a subpoena is, what you must do if you receive one, and how a subpoena can be challenged or set aside.Read the guide →
Pleas and sentencing
Understanding Penalties in NSW CourtsA plain-English guide to the range of penalties a NSW Local or District Court can impose, and how a Magistrate or Judge chooses between them.Read the guide →Sentencing in NSW: How Courts Decide Your PenaltyA plain-English guide to how NSW courts approach sentencing, the range of penalties available, and the factors that genuinely move the outcome.Read the guide →Section 10 Dismissals: Avoiding a Criminal ConvictionA "section 10" lets a NSW court find you guilty but not record a conviction. Here is how it actually works under sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), and what genuinely improves your chances of getting one.Read the guide →Conditional Release Orders in NSW ExplainedA guide to how Conditional Release Orders work in NSW, the difference between a CRO with and without a conviction, and what happens if you breach one.Read the guide →How to Write a Character Reference for CourtA practical guide for family, friends, employers and community members asked to write a reference in support of someone appearing before a NSW Court.Read the guide →How to Write an Apology Letter for CourtA practical guide to writing your own letter to the Court, in your own words, ahead of sentencing.Read the guide →
Traffic and licences
The Traffic Offenders Program: How It Can Help Your Licence AppealA guide to what the Traffic Offenders Program actually involves, and how completing it can genuinely strengthen a licence appeal or sentencing outcome.Read the guide →The Alcohol Interlock Program in NSW: What You Need to KnowA guide to how the mandatory Alcohol Interlock Program works, who has to complete it, and when an exemption may be available.Read the guide →
After sentence
Appeals: Challenging a Conviction or Sentence in NSWA plain-English guide to appealing a conviction or sentence in NSW, the strict time limits involved, and what actually has to be shown for an appeal to succeed.Read the guide →Going to Prison in NSW: What to ExpectA plain-English guide to what happens after a full-time custodial sentence is imposed, from reception into custody through to release on parole.Read the guide →
See also: longer articles on specific charges
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