Half title
Acknowledgement of Country
Title page
Imprints page
Contents
Figures and tables
Table of cases
Table of statues
Australia
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Canada
United Kingdom
Vietnam
International Instruments
Acknowledgements
1 Criminal liability
Contents
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Criminalisation
1.2.1 The purposes of the criminal law
1.2.1.1 Retribution
1.2.1.2 Deterrence
1.2.1.3 Incapacitation
1.2.1.4 Rehabilitation
1.2.1.5 Accountability and denunciation
1.2.1.6 Recognition of harm
1.2.2 The limits of the criminal law
1.2.2.1 The harm principle
1.2.2.2 Criminal law as regulator of public morality
1.2.2.3 The political nature of criminal law
1.2.2.4 Parsimony principle
1.2.2.5 Constructing criminal offences
1.2.3 The sources of criminal law
1.2.3.1 Code and โhybridโ jurisdictions
1.2.3.2 Common law jurisdictions
1.2.3.3 Code or common law?
1.3 Criminal responsibility
1.3.1 The burden of proof
1.3.2 Who can commit a crime?
1.3.2.1 Children
1.3.2.2 Mentally impaired
1.3.2.3 Corporations
1.3.2.3.1 Vicarious liability
1.3.2.3.2 The doctrine of identification
1.3.3 Elements of crimes
1.3.3.1 Physical element/actus reus (including voluntariness/causation)
1.3.3.1.1 Voluntariness
1.3.3.1.2 Act or omission?
Duty arising because of the relationship to the victim
Assuming a duty
1.3.3.1.3 Causation
โBut forโ causation
Establishing legal causation
Victim intervention
Third party intervention
External events / natural forces
1.3.3.2 The fault element or mens rea
1.3.3.2.1 Subjective or objective appraisals
1.3.3.2.2 Intention
1.3.3.2.3 Recklessness
1.3.3.2.4 Negligence
1.3.3.2.5 Knowledge
1.3.3.2.6 Dishonesty
1.3.3.3 Contemporaneity of physical and fault elements
1.3.3.4 Strict and absolute liability offences
1.3.3.4.1 Mistakes and liability
1.3.4 Defences
1.3.4.1 What factors should be legitimate defences?
1.3.4.2 Conceptualising and classifying โdefencesโ
1.3.4.3 Justifications and excuses
1.4 Summary
Key concepts
2 Criminal procedure
Contents
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Pre-trial procedures
2.2.1 Investigation and evidence gathering
2.2.1.1 Questioning suspects
2.2.1.2 Powers to enter and powers to stop and search
2.2.1.3 Forensic procedures
2.2.2 Arrest
2.2.2.1 Arrest is โlast resortโ
2.2.2.2 Use of force
2.2.2.3 Evidence Act
2.2.2.4 Investigation period
2.2.2.5 Prescribed period of detention
2.2.3 Right to silence and caution
2.2.3.1 Meaning of โunder arrestโ
2.2.3.2 Special caution
2.2.3.3 Requirements to provide details
2.2.3.4 Crime commissions
2.2.4 Bail
2.2.4.1 When bail is determined
2.2.4.2 General considerations for bail
2.2.4.3 Thresholds and presumptions against bail
2.2.4.4 Bail conditions
2.2.4.5 Police bail
2.2.4.6 Bail reform
2.2.5 Legal representation
2.2.5.1 Fair trial
2.2.5.2 Legal aid
2.2.6 Summary proceedings, committals and preliminary hearings
2.2.6.1 Committal
2.2.6.2 Preliminary hearings
2.3 Trial procedures
2.3.1 The prosecution
2.3.2 The judge
2.3.3 The jury
2.3.4 The stages of a trial on indictment
2.3.5 Appeals
2.3.5.1 The High Court of Australia
2.3.5.2 An appeal is a remedy given by statute
2.3.5.3 Conviction appeals against guilty verdicts
2.3.5.4 Types of appeal
2.4 Sentencing
2.4.1 Purposes and principles
2.4.1.1 Purposes of sentencing
2.4.1.2 The principle of proportionality
2.4.2 Instinctive synthesis
2.4.2.1 Individualised justice
2.4.2.2 Aiming for โreasonable consistencyโ
2.4.3 The sentencing process
2.4.3.1 A judicial function
2.4.3.2 Sentencing factors โ aggravating and mitigating factors
2.4.3.3 Discount for guilty plea
2.4.3.4 Victim impact statements
2.4.3.5 Current sentencing practice
2.4.3.6 Principle of last resort
2.4.3.7 Sentencing options
2.4.4 Sentencing appeals
2.4.4.1 Common law principles governing appellate review
2.5 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Problem
Questions
Challenge yourself
3 Summary offences
Contents
3.1 Introduction
3.1.1 The nature of summary offences
3.1.2 The importance of statutory interpretation
3.1.3 Penalty units and infringement notices
3.2 Public order offences
3.2.1 Breach of peace
3.2.2 Public places
3.2.3 Offensive behaviour
3.2.3.1 Offensive conduct
3.2.3.2 Offensive language
3.2.3.3 Freedom of speech and expression
3.2.3.4 The reasonable person
3.2.3.5 Reasonable excuse
3.2.3.6 The problem of mens rea
3.2.4 Damage to property
3.2.4.1 Property
3.2.4.2 Damage
3.2.5 Public violence
3.2.5.1 Riot
3.2.5.2 Affray
3.2.5.3 Violent disorder
3.2.6 Prostitution and sexual servitude
3.2.6.1 The concept of prostitution
3.2.6.2 The age of consent
3.2.6.3 Soliciting
3.3 Traffic offences
3.3.1 Key legislation and definitions
3.3.2 Road, drivers and vehicles
3.3.2.1 Road
3.3.2.2 Driver
3.3.2.3 Vehicle
3.3.3 Use of the road: licensing, roadworthiness and defects
3.3.3.1 Licensing
3.3.3.2 Registration
3.3.3.3 Road worthiness and defects
3.3.4 Conduct on the road: speeding; drink and drug driving
3.3.4.1 Speeding
3.3.4.2 Drink and drug driving
3.3.4.3 Detection
3.3.4.4 Penalties
3.3.5 Negligent driving
3.4 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
4 Assaults and threats
Contents
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The (common law) concept of assault (and battery)
4.2.1 Physical element
4.2.1.1 Imminence, fear and conditional threats
4.2.2 Mental element
4.2.2.1 Potential over-inclusiveness of assault definition
4.3 Contact assaults
4.3.1 Levels of harm
4.3.1.1 Significant harm (including diagnosable psychiatric harm)
4.3.1.2 Serious harm
4.3.1.3 Wounding
4.3.2 Offences categorised by reference to degree of harm
4.3.2.1 Offences causing significant harm
4.3.2.2 Offences of serious harm
4.3.2.3 Negligently causing serious harm
4.3.2.4 Recklessly causing serious harm
4.3.2.5 Intentionally causing serious harm
4.3.3 Other aggravating factors
4.3.3.1 Use of a weapon
4.3.3.2 Vulnerable victims
4.3.3.3 Criticisms of particularism
4.3.3.4 Female genital mutilation
4.4 Consent to physical harm
4.4.1 Sports violence
4.4.2 Medical procedures and body modification
4.5 Non-contact assaults
4.5.1 Threats
4.5.2 Stalking and intimidation
4.6 Domestic/family violence
4.6.1 What is domestic violence?
4.6.2 Domestic violence and the criminal law
4.6.3 Restraining orders
4.6.4 Children and violence
4.6.4.1 Corporal punishment
4.6.4.2 Schools and other institutions acting in loco parentis
4.7 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
5 Sexual offences
Contents
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Sex and the criminal law
5.3 Rape and sexual assault
5.3.1 Rape, sexual assault and the common law
5.3.2 The elements of rape
5.3.3 Sexual penetration or sexual intercourse
5.3.4 The role of consent
5.3.5 Consent to the sexual intercourse
5.3.5.1 Withdrawal of consent
5.3.5.2 The complainant does not have to offer physical resistance
5.3.6 Circumstances vitiating consent
5.3.6.1 Threats and submissions
5.3.6.2 Incapacity
5.3.6.3 Intoxication of the complainant
5.3.6.4 Mistake
5.3.7 Intentional sexual penetration
5.3.8 Belief and knowledge about consent
5.3.8.1 Reasonable belief
5.3.8.2 Recklessness
5.3.8.3 Knowledge
5.3.8.4 Legislative deeming provisions
5.3.9 Intoxication of the accused
5.3.10 Jury directions
5.4 Other sexual offences
5.4.1 Aggravated offences
5.4.2 Assault with intent to have sexual intercourse
5.4.3 Sexual assault and sexual touching
5.4.4 Offences against children
5.4.4.1 Age of consent
5.4.4.2 Children under care, supervision or authority
5.4.4.3 Sexual activity in the presence of a child
5.4.5 Sexual offences with people with cognitive impairments
5.4.6 Incest between consenting parties
5.4.7 Technology and sexual misconduct
5.5 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
6 Homicide
Contents
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Murder
6.2.1 Contemporary context and incidence of murder
6.2.2 The substantive law of murder
6.2.3 Actus reus/conduct element of murder
6.2.3.1 Death of a human being
6.2.3.2 Voluntariness
6.2.3.3 Causation
6.2.3.4 Omission
6.2.4 Mens rea/mental element of murder
6.2.4.1 Intention to kill
6.2.4.2 Intention to inflict grievous bodily harm
6.2.4.3 Reckless indifference to human life or to causing grievous bodily harm
6.2.5 Constructive murder
6.3 Involuntary manslaughter
6.3.1 Unlawful and dangerous acts
6.3.1.1 General
6.3.1.2 An unlawful act
6.3.1.3 A dangerous act
6.3.2 Criminal negligence
6.3.2.1 General
6.3.2.2 Specific requirements of this category in light of relevant case law
6.3.3 Industrial manslaughter
6.4 Other unlawful conduct causing death
6.4.1 Assault causing death
6.4.2 Supply of drugs causing death
6.4.3 Culpable or dangerous driving causing death
6.4.4 Infanticide
6.4.5 Assisted suicide and euthanasia
6.5 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
7 Defences
Contents
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Mental state defences
7.2.1 Insanity, mental illness, mental impairment
7.2.1.1 Elements of the defence of insanity in NSW
7.2.1.2 Elements of the defence of insanity in Victoria
7.2.1.2.1 Raising the defence of mental impairment in Victoria
7.2.1.2.2 Components of mental impairment (Victoria)
7.2.1.2.3 Knowledge element
7.2.1.2.4 Nature and quality of conduct
7.2.1.2.5 Knowledge that the conduct is wrong
7.2.1.3 Elements of the defence of insanity in the ACT
7.2.2 Automatism
7.2.3 Diminished responsibility
7.2.4 Provocation
7.2.4.1 Victoria
7.2.4.2 ACT
7.2.4.3 NSW
7.2.5 Infanticide
7.2.6 Intoxication
7.2.6.1 NSW and the ACT
7.2.6.2 Victoria
7.2.6.3 Relevance to โvoluntarinessโ
7.2.6.4 Relevance to fault element
7.3 Self-help defences
7.3.1 Self-defence
7.3.1.1 NSW
7.3.1.1.1 Conduct was necessary in self-defence
7.3.1.1.2 Reasonable response
7.3.1.2 Victoria
7.3.1.2.1 Conduct is necessary in self-defence
7.3.1.2.2 Reasonable response
7.3.1.3 ACT
7.3.2 Duress
7.3.3 Necessity
7.3.3.1 The law of necessity
7.4 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
8 Property offences
Contents
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Property offences framework in Victoria and the ACT
8.3 The offence of theft in Victoria and the ACT
8.3.1 Actus reus of theft
8.3.1.1 Property belonging to another
8.3.1.1.1 Property
8.3.1.1.2 Belonging to another
8.3.1.1.3 Special circumstances of belonging to another
8.3.1.1.4 Property held under an obligation
8.3.1.1.5 Property subject to a restoration obligation
8.3.1.1.6 Abandoned property
8.3.1.2 Appropriation
8.3.1.2.1 Appropriation and consent
8.3.1.2.2 Appropriation and the innocent acquisition of property
8.3.2 Mens rea of theft
8.3.2.1 Intention to permanently deprive
8.3.2.1.1 Conditional intent
8.3.2.2 Dishonesty
8.3.2.2.1 Belief in legal right
8.3.2.2.2 Consent
8.3.2.2.3 Belief that the owner cannot be found
8.3.2.2.4 Willingness to pay
8.3.2.2.5 Special meaning of dishonesty
8.4 Fraud offences in Victoria and the ACT
8.4.1 Obtaining property and financial advantage by deception
8.4.1.1 Obtaining by deception
8.4.1.2 Financial advantage
8.4.2 General dishonesty and conspiracy to defraud
8.5 Robbery and burglary in Victoria and the ACT
8.5.1 Robbery
8.5.1.1 Force/fear of force
8.5.1.2 Immediately before or at the time of committing the theft
8.5.1.3 An intention to use force or the threat of force in order to steal
8.5.2 Burglary
8.5.3 Actus reus of the offence of burglary
8.5.3.1 Entry as a trespasser
8.5.3.2 The role of consent
8.5.3.3 Of any building (or part of a building)
8.5.3.4 An intention to steal or commit a prescribed offence
8.6 Aggravated offences of robbery and burglary in Victoria and the ACT
8.6.1 Firearm, imitation firearm, offensive weapon, explosive or imitation explosive
8.6.1.1 Made or adapted for use
8.7 Property offences framework in NSW
8.8 The offence of larceny in NSW
8.8.1 Actus reus of the offence of larceny
8.8.1.1 Taken and carried away
8.8.1.2 Property capable of being stolen
8.8.1.3 In possession of another
8.8.1.4 Without consent of the owner
8.8.1.5 Abandoned property
8.8.1.6 Larceny by finding
8.8.1.7 Larceny by mistake
8.8.1.8 Property already stolen
8.8.2 Mens rea for the offence of larceny
8.8.2.1 Intention to permanently deprive the owner
8.8.2.2 Claim of right
8.8.2.3 Fraudulently
8.8.2.4 Larceny by a bailee
8.9 Fraud in NSW
8.9.1 The elements of fraud
8.9.1.1 Deception
8.9.1.2 Causation
8.9.1.3 Obtaining property, financial advantage or causing financial disadvantage
8.9.1.4 Dishonesty
8.10 Robbery in NSW
8.10.1 Breaking and entering
8.10.1.1 Breaking
8.10.1.2 Entering
8.10.1.3 Sentencing for breaking and entering and circumstances of aggravation
8.10.2 Implements of housebreaking
8.10.3 Receiving stolen property
8.11 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercises
Problem 1
Problem 2
Challenge yourself
9 Drug offences
Contents
9.1 Introduction
9.1.1 The problem of terminology
9.1.2 Prevalence of drug use in Australia
9.1.3 Drug offence classification
9.1.4 Policy
9.1.5 Hierarchy of drug offences
9.2 Core sources of law
9.2.1 Relevant constitutional provisions
9.2.2 International law
9.2.3 Commonwealth law
9.2.4 State law
9.2.5 State/federal overlap
9.3 Prohibited drugs, precursors and controlled medicines
9.3.1 Prohibited drugs and precursors
9.3.1.1 Defined substances
9.3.1.2 Prohibited plants
9.3.1.3 Analogues
9.3.1.4 Admixtures
9.3.1.5 Representations
9.3.1.6 Psychoactive substances
9.3.1.7 Poisons and restricted substances
9.3.2 Precursors
9.3.3 Certification and analysis
9.4 Possession
9.4.1 Physical elements of possession
9.4.2 Mental elements of possession
9.4.3 Possession for the purpose of supply
9.4.4 Theorising the elements of possession
9.5 Supply and trafficking
9.5.1 ACT
9.5.2 Commonwealth
9.5.3 NSW
9.5.4 Victoria
9.5.5 Physical element(s) of supply/trafficking
9.5.6 Mental elements of supply and trafficking
9.5.7 Offences involving children
9.5.8 Escalating quantities and liability
9.6 Manufacture
9.6.1 ACT
9.6.2 Commonwealth
9.6.3 NSW
9.6.4 Victoria
9.6.5 The elements of manufacturing offences
9.7 Cultivation
9.7.1 ACT
9.7.2 Commonwealth
9.7.3 NSW
9.7.4 Victoria
9.7.5 The elements of cultivation offences
9.8 Importation
9.9 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
10 Federal offences
Contents
10.1 Introduction
10.1.1 Constitutional framework
10.1.2 Federal geographic jurisdiction
10.1.2.1 Commonwealth land
10.1.2.2 Standard geographic jurisdiction
10.1.2.3 Extended geographic jurisdiction
10.1.2.4 Extended geographic jurisdiction (Category A)
10.1.2.5 Extended geographic jurisdiction (Category B)
10.1.2.6 Extended geographic jurisdiction (Category C)
10.1.2.7 Extended geographic jurisdiction (Category D)
10.1.3 Main sources of federal law
10.1.4 Principles of federal liability
10.1.4.1 Indictable and summary disposal
10.2 Terrorism
10.2.1 Definitions of terrorism
10.2.2 Terrorist acts and organisations
10.2.3 Terrorist financing and support
10.2.4 Preventing terrorism and criminal procedure
10.2.4.1 Links with intelligence agencies
10.2.4.2 Overlapping state investigations law
10.2.4.3 Control orders
10.2.4.4 Preventative detention
10.2.4.5 Continuing detention
10.3 Organised crime
10.3.1 Commonwealth law concerning criminal associations and organisations
10.3.1.1 Associating in support of serious organised criminal activity
10.3.1.2 Supporting a criminal organisation
10.3.1.3 Committing an offence for the benefit, or under direction, of a criminal organisation
10.3.1.4 Directing a criminal organisation
10.3.2 State laws concerned with criminal associations and organisations
10.3.2.1 ACT
10.3.2.2 NSW
10.3.2.3 Victoria
10.3.2.4 Conditions for organisations
10.3.2.5 Conditions for individuals
10.3.2.6 Unlawful association
10.3.2.7 Summary
10.3.3 Outlawed motorcycle gangs
10.4 Offences against humanity
10.4.1 Slavery
10.4.2 People smuggling and trafficking
10.4.2.1 People smuggling
10.4.2.2 Trafficking in human beings
10.4.3 Child exploitation
10.5 Cybercrime
10.5.1 Hacking and other online interference
10.5.1.1 What is a โcomputerโ?
10.5.1.2 Unauthorised access, modification or impairment with intent to commit a serious offence
10.5.1.3 Unauthorised modification of data to cause impairment
10.5.1.4 Unauthorised impairment of electronic communication
10.5.1.5 Division 478 offences
10.5.2 Child pornography
10.5.2.1 The meaning of โchildโ
10.5.2.2 The distinction between pornography and abuse material
10.5.2.2.1 Child pornography
10.5.2.2.2 Child abuse material
10.5.2.3 Assessing offensiveness
10.5.2.4 Private sexual content and the age of subjects
10.5.2.5 Offences concerned with online child pornography
10.5.2.6 Interpretation principles
10.5.2.7 The fault elements
10.5.2.8 The meaning of carriage service
10.5.2.9 Aggravated offences
10.5.2.10 Streaming sex offences
10.5.2.11 Planning and grooming
10.5.2.12 Defences
10.5.2.13 Offences involving child pornography outside Australia
10.6 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
11 Extending criminal responsibility
Contents
11.1 Introduction
11. 2 Inchoate offences
11.2.1 Attempt
11.2.1.1 Conduct elements
11.2.1.2 Mental element
11.2.2 Other preparatory offences
11.2.3 Conspiracy
11.2.3.1 Sources of conspiracy offences
11.2.3.2 Statutory sources โ physical element
11.2.3.3 Statutory sources โ fault element
11.2.3.4 Construction of conspiracy at common law
11.2.3.4.1 The agreement
11.2.3.4.2 A conspiracy of one
11.2.3.5 The unlawful act and factual impossibility
11.2.4 Incitement
11.3 Complicity
11.3.1 Primary and derivative liability
11.3.1.1 Accessorial liability: aiding, abetting, counselling and procuring
11.3.1.1.1 Withdrawal
11.3.1.2 Acting in concert, joint criminal enterprise, common purpose
11.3.1.2.1 Joint principals
11.3.1.2.2 Joint criminal enterprise, acting in concert or common purpose
11.3.1.2.3 Extended joint criminal enterprise or extended common purpose
11.3.1.3 Innocent agency
11.3.2 Accessory after the fact
11.4 Summary
Key concepts
Problem-solving exercise
Challenge yourself
Index
