National Criminal Lawyers secured the dismissal of two domestic violence charges for a practising lawyer at Parramatta Local Court under a Section 14 mental health application. No finding of guilt. No conviction recorded.
NCL secured the dismissal of a stealing charge at the Downing Centre Local Court under a Section 14 mental health application despite CCTV, electronic and witness evidence. No conviction recorded.
Mental health applications including section 32 and section 14 provisions allow NSW courts to divert criminal matters from standard proceedings toward treatment when mental illness, intellectual disability, or cognitive impairment contributed to offending. This guide explains section 32 dismissals and adjournments, section 14 unfitness provisions, required evidence including psychiatric reports, factors courts consider, mental health defences and sentencing considerations, and why expert legal representation is essential for successful mental health applications.
Why intimate image offences catch people off guard Distributing intimate images is one of the fastest growing criminal offences in New South Wales. Many accused people do not realise that the offence is not limited to uploading images online. Threatening to share an intimate image is itself a criminal offence and carries significant penalties. The…
One of the most persistent misconceptions in NSW criminal law is this: “If the offender has a mental illness, the sentence will be reduced.” That belief is only partly true, and in serious cases, it is often flatly wrong. NSW courts have repeatedly emphasised that mental illness does not automatically mitigate sentence, particularly where offences…
Explore the impact of the Bondi Junction attack on NSW knife crime laws, sentencing, and liability. Learn about the harsh penalties for public attacks.
Explore Section 14 applications in NSW, a powerful legal option to dismiss charges due to mental health issues, and avoid criminal records. Learn more!
You’re facing serious charges. But what if you’re unable to understand what’s happening in court? What if you’re experiencing mental illness, cognitive impairment, or a developmental disability so severe that you can’t instruct your lawyer, follow proceedings, or make rational decisions? In NSW, that could mean you are “unfit to stand trial.” At National Criminal…
You’ve been charged with assault, a breach of an AVO, or another serious offence — but you genuinely don’t remember what happened. Maybe you were intoxicated. Maybe you were in a state of mental confusion, panic, or psychosis. Either way, you’re wondering: “If I didn’t know what I was doing, can I still be found…
You’ve been found guilty or have pleaded guilty to a criminal offence. But your mental health condition, whether it’s schizophrenia, PTSD, depression, or bipolar disorder, played a major role in what happened. You may be wondering: Will the court take my mental illness into account when deciding my sentence? The short answer? Yes, even if…
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