Youthlaw
Youthlaw is the first specialist young people's community legal centre in Victoria. This web site allows young people to find out about legal issues. Youthlaw provide free and confidential legal advice to young people up to the age of 25.
For more information visit the Youthlaw website.
Guide for offenders in the magistrates' court
This booklet, produced by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is a guide for people who have been charged with a criminal offence in the Magistrates' Court. It includes information about Magistrates' Court programs, criminal records, bail, case flow and outcomes if you are found guilty, sample court documents and letters, and a glossary explaining common legal terms. VLA also produce 'The Road to Court', a guide to traffic offences in the Magistrates' Court. All VLA publications are free of charge.
To order either of these guides phone 9269 0223 or visit the Legal Aid website.
Sexual assault: the law, your rights
Sexual assault, the law, your rights provides information about where to get help and reporting a sexual assault to the police. It includes information about the legal process after reporting a sexual assault and about compensation and financial assistance.
For more information visit the Legal Aid website.
The Law Handbook - now available online
The Law Handbook is a practical guide for all Victorians to the law, written in plain English and offering advice on dealing with the legal system. It features information on a range on things, including: buying a house or car; Centrelink benefits; credit and debt problems; disability rights; driving and drug offences; criminal records; family law; infringements and fines; police powers; where to get legal advice; and much more.
For more information visit The Law Handbook website.
New Police Powers
The law has changed to give police more power to tackle public violence and disorder. The new police powers include:
- Giving directions to move on and stay away
- Fining people on-the-spot with a new offence of disorderly conduct in a public place
- Increased fines for public drunkenness
- Searching people for weapons without a warrant in some locations
- Fining people on-the spot for carrying knives
Directions to move on and stay away
Police can ask you to move on and stay away from a public place if they think you are:
- Disturbing or likely to disturb the peace
- Behaving in a way that may be dangerous to public safety; or
- Behaving in a way that is likely to cause injury or damage to property
If police have directed you verbally to move away from a public place, you will usually have to stay away from that area for a particular period of time, being anything up to 24 hours.
If you need more information to understand the direction you may ask police why you are being moved on, where you must stay away from and for how long.
If you feel you have been moved on unfairly by police you can contact your local community legal centre (to find your local one phone 9652 1500, or visit the Community Law website) or if you are under 25 years, phone or email Youthlaw on 9611 2412 or visit 19 King Street, Melbourne, Monday to Friday, 2pm - 5pm.
Penalty: If you refuse to move away and/ or stay away from the area as directed by police, they may issue an on-the-spot fine (infringement notice) of penalty of two units (approx $234) (as of December 2009) for refusing to stay away from that area for a particular period of time. If the matter goes to court, the maximum fine is five units (around $585, as of December 2009)
Disorderly conduct in a public place
Any person who behaves in a disorderly manner in a public place can now be fined. There is no clear definition of disorderly conduct. It is up to police to make an assessment of this. It does not apply to anyone who is demonstrating, protesting, or picketing about an issue or view. Penalty: On-the-spot penalties with a fine two penalty units (that’s around $234).
Public Drunkenness
The law now allows police to place a person in safe custody if they’re found drunk in a public place. Penalties: An on-the-spot fine of two penalty units (approx $234) can be issued for public drunkenness.
If the matter goes to court, the maximum fine has increased to four penalty units (approx $468).
Searches for weapons
Police may search a person for weapons without a warrant in a public area (e.g. train station) declared to be a designated area for up to 12 hours. Offence of refusing a search: It is an offence to refuse to be searched
Penalty: You may be fined 2 penalty units or around $234.
This information comes from a Youthlaw Fact Sheet.
For more information visit the Youthlaw website.
