Pre-Trial Diversion of Offenders Regulation 2000

His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has made the following Regulation under the Pre-Trial Diversion of Offenders Act 1985.

JEFFREY SHAW, Q.C., M.L.C.,Attorney General

1 Name of Regulation

This Regulation is the Pre-Trial Diversion of Offenders Regulation 2000.

2 Commencement

This Regulation commences on 1 August 2000.

3 Definitions

(1)  In this Regulation:

Director means the person nominated by the Director-General of the Department of Health to be the Director of the Program.

Program means the Pre-Trial Diversion of Offenders Program approved in accordance with Part 3A of the Act.

the Act means the Pre-Trial Diversion of Offenders Act 1985.

(2)  The explanatory note and table of contents do not form part of this Regulation.

4 Maximum adjournment periods: sections 9, 13 and 17

(1)  For the purposes of section 9 of the Act, 4 weeks is prescribed as the maximum period for which proceedings may be adjourned to allow a determination to be made as to whether a person is to be referred for assessment for suitability for participation in the Program.

(2)  For the purposes of section 13 of the Act, 8 weeks is prescribed as the maximum period for which proceedings may be adjourned to allow such an assessment to be made.

(3)  For the purposes of section 17 of the Act, 2 weeks is prescribed as the maximum period for which proceedings may be adjourned to allow the person charged to be given advice and information.

5 Prosecutor’s guidelines: section 10

For the purposes of section 10 of the Act, the following guidelines are prescribed for consideration by the prosecutor in determining whether a person is to be referred for assessment:

Guidelines

1 A prosecutor should not refer a person for assessment: (a) if the child sexual assault offence with which the person is charged is alleged to have been accompanied by acts of violence towards the alleged victim or others, or (b) if the person is under 18 years of age, or (c) if the person has a prior conviction for a sexual offence, whether in New South Wales or elsewhere, or (d) if the alleged victim is 18 years of age or more when the person first appears before a Justice in relation to the offence, or (e) if the person has previously been requested under section 23 of the Act to give an undertaking in relation to any offence.

2 A prosecutor may take into account any other matter that the prosecutor considers relevant to the question of whether or not the person should be referred for assessment.

6 Assessment procedure: section 14

(1)  Within one week after the prosecutor’s decision to refer a person for an assessment of suitability for participation in the Program, the prosecutor must notify the Director in writing of that decision.

(2)  Within one week after the assessment is carried out, the Director must notify the prosecutor of the results of the assessment and (if appropriate) the reasons why the person concerned is not suitable for participation in the Program.

(3)  The assessment must be carried out by means of structured clinical interviews of:

(a)  the person referred for assessment, and

(b)  such other persons acquainted with the person referred for assessment as the Director may determine.

7 Repeal

(1)  The Pre-Trial Diversion of Offenders Regulation 1995 is repealed.

(2)  Any act, matter or thing that, immediately before the repeal of the Pre-Trial Diversion of Offenders Regulation 1995, had effect under that Regulation continues to have effect under this Regulation.