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Matter types and clauses for sexual offences/CSOEP

New matter types

To help us better identify matters that fall within the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot we have created new matter types for sexual related offences.

We have created 3 new categories for these matter types:

  1. Current
    • sexual offences where the complainant is a child (under 18) at the time of the offence and still a child at the time of prosecution
    • is likely to be dealt with under the CSOEP provisions in the District Court.
  2. Historic
    • sexual offences where the complainant was a child at the time of the offence but is an adult at the time of prosecution.
  3. Adult DV related & Adult non DV related
    • sexual offences where the complainant was an adult at the time of the offence
    • DV related – there is a domestic or familial relationship between the accused and the complainant
    • non DV related – there is no domestic or familial relationship between the accused and the complainant.

Offences against children (Child Related Offences)

New matter typeDescriptionRelevant offence/s
Sexual Touch/Act Child/YPSexual Touching or Sexual Act – Complainant child or YP under special care
  • indecent assault/sexual touching, or
  • indecent act/sexual act offences
Child Sex Off – historicChild Sexual Offence – (historic charge)

Historical offences against a child or young person under special care which involve:

  • actual or attempted sexual intercourse or activity, or
  • are more serious than an offence of sexual touching/sexual act
Child Sex Off – currentChild Sexual Offence – child complainant (current)

Offences against a child or young person under special care which involve:

  • actual or attempted sexual intercourse or activity, or
  • are more serious than an offence of sexual touching/sexual act
Agg Child Sex Off historiAggravated Child Sexual Offence – (historic charge)

A matter should be treated as “aggravated” if:

  • it is an aggravated version of an offence (e.g. s.66C(2) Aggravated sexual intercourse child between 10-14, or
  • it carries life imprisonment (e.g. s.66EA Persistent Sexual Abuse of a child)
Agg Child Sex Off currentAggravated Child Sexual Offence – child complainant (current)

A matter should be treated as “aggravated” if:

  • it is an aggravated version of an offence (e.g. s.66C(2) Aggravated sexual intercourse child between 10-14, or
  • it carries life imprisonment (e.g. s.66EA Persistent Sexual Abuse of a child)

Offences against adults (Adult Related Offences)

New matter typeDescriptionRelevant offence/s
Sexual Touch/Act AdultSexual Touching or Sexual Act – Adult Complainant

This category of matters includes:

  • indecent assault/sexual touching, or
  • indecent act/sexual act offences

allegedly committed against an adult.

Adult Sexual Off DVAdult Sexual Assault – Domestic Violence Related

This category of matters includes offences:

  • which involve actual or attempted sexual intercourse or activity, or
  • are more serious than an offence of sexual touching/sexual act.

Such as:

  • s.61I Crimes Act 1900 – sexual intercourse without consent
  • s.66F Crimes Act 1900 – sexual offences by “a person responsible for care”.
Adult Sexual Off Non DVAdult Sexual Assault – Non-Domestic Violence Related

This category of matters includes offences:

  • which involve actual or attempted sexual intercourse or activity, or
  • are more serious than an offence of sexual touching/sexual act.

Such as:

  • s.61I Crimes Act 1900 – sexual intercourse without consent
  • s.66F Crimes Act 1900 – sexual offences by “a person responsible for care”.
Agg Adult Sex Off DVAggravated Adult Sexual Assault – Domestic Violence Related

A matter should be treated as “aggravated” if:

  • it is an aggravated version of an offence (e.g. s.61J Aggravated Sexual Assault), or
  • carries life imprisonment (e.g. s.61JA Crimes Act 1900 – Aggravated Sexual Assault in company).
Agg Adult Sex Off Non DVAggravated Adult Sexual Assault – Non-Domestic Violence Related

A matter should be treated as “aggravated” if:

  • it is an aggravated version of an offence (e.g. s.61J Aggravated Sexual Assault), or
  • carries life imprisonment (e.g. s.61JA Crimes Act 1900 – Aggravated Sexual Assault in company)

What about existing grants – will the new matter types affect them?

The previous matter types for sexual offences have been made obsolete.  If you have a  grant with a matter type that is no longer available you will need to update these when you submit an extension.

For example:

Current Grant matter typeReplace with new matter type
Act Indcncy/Asslt Under 16Sexual Touch/Act Child/YP

New clauses for the Ground Rules Hearing and Pre-Record Hearing

We have created new clauses for attendance at the Ground Rule Hearing and for attendance at the Pre-Record Hearing for solicitor and junior counsel.

The new clauses will be available for selection on these templates when you are requesting funding for trial:

  • Trial and Sentence - State and Commonwealth - District and Supreme Court
  • Trial and Sentence - State and Commonwealth - District and Supreme Court – Extension.

Attendance at the Ground Rules Hearing

ClausePractitioner typeWhen to request
SGRHSolicitorWhen a date has been set for the Ground Rules Hearing
CGRHJunior Counsel complex and non-complexWhen a date has been set for the Ground Rules Hearing

Attendance at the Pre-Record Hearing including client conferences

ClausePractitioner typeWhen to request
SPRHSolicitorWhen a date has been set for the Pre-Record Hearing
JCPRHJunior Counsel – non complexWhen a date has been set for the Pre-Record Hearing
JCOMPRHJunior Counsel – complexWhen a date has been set for the Pre-Record Hearing