The focus of the Public Safety & Justice practice group is to advise and represent clients in matters that have a direct impact on the protection of the community. This includes:
- high risk offender matters
- forensic and involuntary patient matters
- parole advice and proceedings
- segregated and protective custody matters
- AVO advice and proceedings
- applications under the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001
- prerogative of mercy advice
- contempt advice and proceedings.
We have expertise in matters involving the intersection between the civil and criminal law jurisdictions. This includes representation of the State of NSW and government agencies across a broad range of courts and tribunals – from matters before the State Parole Authority and Mental Health Review Tribunal, to proceedings in the Supreme Court/Court of Appeal concerning offenders subject to post-release and mental health regimes.
Key areas of expertise: Apprehended Violence Orders; contempt of court; criminal appeals (all grounds, sentencing); forensic patients; High Risk Offender applications; reviews on conviction - Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act, Mental Health Review Tribunal (appearance before), parole (appearance before), Serious Offender Review Council (appearance before).
Examples of our work for clients
- Providing specialist advice and assistance to public officers, including in defending AVO proceedings arising from their employment.
- Proven record of success in statutory applications on behalf of the State of NSW and government agencies, succeeding in over nine out of ten applications for continuing detention orders or extended supervision orders under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006.
- Acting for the Attorney General and the State of NSW in Supreme Court applications for orders concerning offenders under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 and the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017.
- Acting in applications concerning forensic patients under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020.
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