The Law Handbook 2024

152 SECTION 3: Fines, infringements and criminal law then the onus is on the accused to disprove the presumption. Penalties Under the CTNDPS Act, penalties vary according to the nature of the act engaged in (cultivation, separation of drug from plant, manufacture, etc.) and the quantity involved (s 15). Distinction is made between commercial, traffickable and other quantities. The penalties for commercial quantities are more severe than those for traffickable quantities. In general, the CTNDPS Act provides for very severe penalties, including life imprisonment. More information about drug offences Publications that provide an introduction to the Criminal Code include: • Watson, R & Watson, A 1990, Federal Offences , Law Book Company; • March 2002, The Commonwealth Criminal Code: A Guide for Practitioners , www.ag.gov.au. Contacts Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) Tel: 9628 7975 Email: cisp@courts.vic.gov.au Web: www.mcv.vic.gov.au/find-support/bail-support-cisp CISP is available at many Magistrates’ Courts in Victoria; the web page above provides a list of them, along with their contact details. Drug Court At the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, 233 William Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 9628 7983 Email: drugcourtmelbourne@courts.vic.gov.au Web: www.mcv.vic.gov.au/about_us/drug-court Drug Court At the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, 35 Pultney Street, Dandenong Vic 3175 Tel: 7003 4119 Email: drugcourtdandenong@courts.vic.gov.au Drug Court At the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court, 100 Grenville Street South, Ballarat Vic 3350 Tel: 7003 4113 Email: drugcourtballarat@courts.vic.gov.au Drug Court At the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court, 18 High Street, Shepparton Vic 3630 Tel: 9087 5723 Email: drugcourtshepparton@courts.vic.gov.au