Contributor

Benjamin Lindner

Barrister

Classification of offences

Categories of criminal offences in Victoria

Criminal offences in Victoria are divided into three categories:

  1. indictable offences;
  2. indictable offences triable summarily; and
  3. summary offences.

Any offence that was known to the common law or expressed by statute to be a felony is now referred to as an indictable offence.

A further category is serious indictable offences, which are indictable offences punishable on first conviction with imprisonment for life or for a term of five years or more (s 325(6) Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) (‘Crimes Act (Vic)’)).

Whether an offence is classified as indictable or summary determines in which court, in what manner, and after what pre-trial procedures, the offence will be tried.

Where an offence is described as a summary offence, or if the Act does not say what type of offence it is, then it is to be prosecuted before a Magistrates’ Court as a summary offence (s 52 Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 (Vic)).

Indictable offences triable only by a judge and jury (or a judge alone)

‘Indictable offences’ are serious crimes that are usually triable only by a judge and jury (or a judge alone) and are therefore heard in either the County Court or the Supreme Court.

These offences may carry serious consequences for the convicted offender. Most of the matters tried in this manner are those crimes specified as such in the Crimes Act (Vic), although there are many other Victorian and Commonwealth Acts that create indictable offences. There are also a number of common law (i.e. not set out in a statute) indictable offences.

Indictable offences triable by either a judge and jury (or a judge alone) or summarily

These offences – although considered serious and classified as indictable offences – may, with the accused’s consent, be heard by a magistrate. Section 28 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic) (‘CP Act’) allows for the hearing in the Magistrates’ Court of any matter punishable by a maximum term of 10 years’ imprisonment (level 5 imprisonment), or a fine of $120 000 (level 5 fine).Other indictable offences with maximum penalties higher than those referred to in section 28 that can still be heard in the Magistrates’ Court are listed in schedule 2 of the CP Act.

Summary offences: Crimes triable only by the Magistrates’ Court

Summary offences are almost always heard in the Magistrates’ Court. The summary procedure is in the CP Act (ss 27–94). The only exception is where the accused person is before the County or Supreme Court for an indictable offence; that court may also determine the summary offence if the accused consents and pleads guilty (s 243 CP Act).

Section 25(1) of the Magistrates’ Court Act 1989 (Vic) (‘MC Act’) establishes the jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court in relation to summary offences.

However, many summary offences (in particular, traffic offences) are dealt with without going to court, through the infringement notice system (see Chapter 3.1: Fines and infringements, and Chapter 6.8: Driving offences). Under this system, an infringement penalty will be registered unless the person indicates they want the offence heard by a court, in which case normal court procedures apply.

The hearing of summary offences can proceed in the absence of the person charged. However, a warrant is issued for their arrest if they are on bail and/or fail to appear at an indictable offence hearing.

Charges for summary offences must be laid within 12 months of the alleged offence being committed. Charges for indictable offences can be laid at any time.

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