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Criminal Jurisdiction
Number
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
0
Criminal Cases Overall – 2002-03 to 2006-07
2002-03
Initiated
Finalised
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
Pending
Managing the Sex Offences List
Judge Sexton continued to manage all sex offences directions
hearings for the state and the allocation of special hearings (prerecording
of evidence). The fi rst special hearing in a regional centre
took place on March 5, 2007 at Mildura. It became apparent that the
legislative requirement that special hearings be carried out within
21 days of committal was proving onerous for the Court. At the end
of the reporting year, negotiations had commenced for legislative
change to address this issue.
Other changes during the year
New legislation
In March 2007, Greg Byrne, Director, Criminal Law-Justice Statement
addressed Judges on imminent criminal justice reforms. A broad
range of changes to criminal procedure, investigative powers,
offences and reforms to the Evidence and Bail Acts are currently
contemplated. The Court has regularly been invited to make
submissions and comment on the proposed legislative changes.
Child Witness Support Service (CWSS)
Following the launch by the Attorney-General of the Child Witness
Support Service on the 14th September 2006, close links have
been established between the CWSS and the Court. Tipstaves play
an important collaborative role during the taking of evidence from
children and young people. In addition, court staff supported the
service in implementing special hearings in regional Victoria.
Looking Ahead
In circuit locations the number of older pending cases remains a
concern to be addressed in the next year using more aggressive
management of pre-trial hearings.
In May 2007, following a successful ERC bid, funding was allocated
for two additional Judges to be appointed after July 1, 2007 to
address delay in the criminal jurisdiction.
Plea Intensive
From October 2 to December 8, 2007 in response to the delays in
the hearing of pleas, the Court conducted a ‘plea intensive’. A number
of Judges assigned to general civil work were re-allocated to hear
criminal pleas with priority given to sex offences and cases where
the accused was in custody or a young offender.
Some 139 cases were listed for hearing; 105 proceeded to sentence.
At various times nine Judges contributed to the intensive.
The impact of the intensive is shown in the fi gures for the following
periods:
• October-December 2006, 610 fi nalisations clearance rate 95.5%
• October-December 2005, 455 fi nalisations clearance rate 64.4%
His Honour Chief Judge Rozenes (shown) and Judge Nicholson conduct pre-trial hearings at 9.00am daily in order to
manage the progress of criminal trials coming before the Court.
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