by Jones + AssociatesWhat You Need to Know About Search Warrants
Though TV crime dramas like to glorify the loose cannon cop who doesn’t “play by the rules” and will break down a door in a heartbeat, in reality there are protections in place to shield citizens from such reckless behaviour by police. Below, you can find a brief overview of searches, both with and without a warrant, as well as the definition of some important terms. If you are in need of advice regarding a search matter, please contact a Brisbane Criminal Lawyers today and protect your rights.
Home Searches
Right to refusal: Police in Queensland do not have an automatic right to enter your home. If you are refusing them entry, state clearly that you are not inviting them in nor do you consent to any officer remaining on any part of your premises. It is important to keep calm and treat the officers with respect, as anything you say may be used as evidence against you later. Also, make note of any witnesses so that there are other stories to support your claim that you refused police entry.
Police entry without warrant: Though you generally have the right to refuse police entry on your property, there are situations where they will be able to enter without a warrant and without your consent. For example, an officer may enter your home when: handing over a legal document; in an emergency; testing blood alcohol content after a traffic incident; pursuing an escapee; searching for evidence that is in danger of being hidden or destroyed; executing an arrest; reaching a crime scene; or in the event of an anti-terrorism order. These reasons need to be based on “reasonable belief” and within a “reasonable time” (see definitions below).
Police entry with a warrant: A warrant will allow police the right to search your property. Always ask to see the warrant, read through it carefully. The police will then be allowed a reasonable amount of time to conduct their search and have certain powers: detaining those present; removing wall, floor, and ceiling panels; taking pictures; digging and searching those present.
Informal police interviews: It is important to not answer any questions asked while the search is underway, as anything you say can be used against you as evidence.
Searches of your person or vehicle: Police have no automatic right to search you or your vehicle without cause. The officer will be allowed to conduct a search if they have a reasonable suspicion that you have a weapon, illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, stolen property, contraband, graffiti tools, tools of theft, something you are intending to use to harm yourself or another, evidence of public drinking, or evidence of any offence punishable by at least seven years of jail-time.
Police requirements: When conducting such a search, police must treat you with respect and follow certain guidelines. You should not be searched in the presence of security cameras, and if any clothes are seized for evidence you must be provided alternate pieces of clothing. If and when the search is in public, the officer must strive to cause you the least amount of embarrassment and limit the search to a frisk if possible. More invasive searches should be conducted in private and, unless an immediate search is required, searches should be conducted by an officer of the same sex.
Computers and mobiles: You are allowed to refuse a request to search your computer or mobile phone and police will have to acquire a warrant to conduct this search. However, the police may seize these items in the interim to prevent tampering or deletion of evidence.
Definitions
“Reasonable Time”: The amount of time required to ask questions and make reasonable observations or investigation.
“Reasonable Suspicion”: Most courts agree that a reasonable suspicion can be assumed when there is presence of some fact that would make a reasonably minded person believe the same thing. An important note is that a suspicion does not need to be right but merely reasonable.
by Jones + AssociatesCan I Appeal My Sentence in Queensland?
Many Australians may find themselves dealing with a Court matter at some point in their lives. And many of those people will end up feeling decisions made against them, such as conviction and sentencing, were made in error. Luckily, a fundamental tenet of our legal system is the right to appeal a decision against you to a higher court. Below we cover some of the most frequently asked questions about appeals in Queensland but you should always seek a lawyer’s guidance in order to have the best chance at a successful appeal.
When can I make an appeal?
In Queensland, you are generally only able to make an appeal after a sentence has been handed down by the Court. In criminal cases, you can only appeal a guilty verdict and/or a sentence. In both criminal and civil matters you may need to seek leave (permission) to appeal, depending on the original court in which the case was heard.
It can be difficult for a layperson to accurately assess his or her chances of success on appeal. Advice from a lawyer about the grounds on which you should base your appeal and its overall strength should be a priority for anyone disappointed with the initial decision against them.
Steps of the appeal process
Though each case is unique, there is a general order to an appeals process.
- Appeal Book: Once a judgement you regard as unsatisfactory is handed down, you can begin the process of building your case for appeal. You don’t need to start from scratch and in any case, will rarely be permitted to introduce new evidence during an appeal, but you can condense the materials from your original case into an ‘Appeal Book’. The Appeal Book must be purchased by parties to a trial though the fee can be waived if financial hardship can be shown.
- Grounds for appeal: When gathering these materials, a criminal lawyer will be able to review, organize and prioritise the information to give you a better idea of what your grounds for appeal may be.Common grounds of appeal
- Unsafe and unsatisfactory verdict: The jury’s verdict was not supported by the presented evidence and was thus unreasonable.
- Manifestly excessive sentence: The sentence was inordinately severe in light of the circumstances of the case.
- Error of Law: There may have been a mistake regarding the instructions given to the jury, the inclusion or exclusion of certain pieces of evidence, or the reliance upon the wrong facts when reaching the verdict.
- Notice of Appeal: When you are filing an appeal, you need to put several parties on notice to appeal within the time constraints set down by the particular court jurisdiction. These time limits are quite rigid, and failure to comply with them will likely result in yielding some or all of your appeal rights. Though time limits vary, they can be as short as a month after the original decision is handed down, so it is important to act fast.The Notice of Appeal is a formal legal document that provides important pieces of information, including the names of all parties and litigants who will have an interest in responding to the appeal, the date of the original court decision, the initial plea entered, all other pertinent details about the original case, your grounds for appeal, and your argument defending the need for an appeal.
- Appeal bail: A successful application for appeal bail will mean that a person whose sentence included a term of imprisonment can remain free until the time of the appeal. However, in order to gain an opportunity for bail pending appeal, you will need to demonstrate that the case is “exceptional”. An exceptional case is one where there is evidence of “strong grounds for concluding that the appeal will be allowed” and where a substantial portion of the sentence will be served before the appeal can be decided.
- Arguments: Preparation is key. The best way to win on appeal is to address what happened in the lower court, detail the mistakes that were made, how they should be corrected, and why you deserve a different result based on those corrections. A lawyer will know the practice directions required for appellate courts, which set out the strict requirements for argument outlines and timelines for serving them.
- Appeal hearing: If a mistake has been made in your trial or your sentence was unfair in light of the circumstances, you will likely want to tell your side of the story. Preparing your arguments and presenting them to the appellate court is how your lawyer will tell your side of the story.
- Decision: After hearing the arguments presented by your lawyer, an appeal court may deliver their decision at that time (ex tempore) if the decision is unlikely to affect future cases, or at a later date if the decision is likely to create a precedent for the future. If you are again disappointed with the sentence you receive, you may be able to appeal again to a higher court. If this is the case, your lawyer will be able to advise you on next steps.
by Jones + AssociatesHelp with drug charges & rehabilitation for you or your loved one
Drug Charges & Rehabilitation
Over the last 4 years, Jones + Associates have utilised their unique relationship with other organisations to assist drug offenders obtain the best possible results when sentenced by Queensland Courts.
When sentencing offenders, courts must take into account various factors. Importantly, courts look to the efforts an offender has made to address the issues at the heart of their offending behaviour. Courts look favourably upon offenders who have taken a proactive approach to addressing the issues that contributed to their offending, whether it be drug or alcohol addiction, mental illness or another concerns.
Jones + Associates’ unique relationship with a well-known not for profit organisation enables us to provide clients with access to a ‘rehabilitation co-ordinator.’ Co-ordinators use their wealth of experience and knowledge to refer clients to a range of targeted support services. Through a personalised rehabilitation plan, clients are able to identify and begin to address issues specific to their offending. This targeted support not only assists clients in their personal development but also provides courts with definitive evidence of their rehabilitative efforts.
Jones + Associates have represented many clients with a background of illicit substance abuse or other personal issues for sentencing before the District and Supreme Courts. The assistance provided by our ‘rehabilitation co-ordinators’ has proved to be a significant factor in these clients either avoiding prison time altogether or reducing the usual sentence. Our results speak for themselves.
It has often been commented upon by Judges the significant and impressive nature of our clients rehabilitative efforts, particularly those undertaken with the support of our rehabilitation strategy.
Should you or a loved one find themselves charged with a criminal offence and have an underlying personal issue to address, you should contact a member of Brisbane Criminal Lawyers at Jones + Associates to not only provide you with the best legal representation available but also access to the support required to address your personal circumstances.
What Do The Next Step?
Contact our experienced Brisbane drug lawyer or fill out an online contact form to hear back from a member of the criminal lawyer’s team today.
by Jones + AssociatesDo the Police Need a Search Warrant?
Search warrants. Anyone who has watched a crime drama on television is familiar with the concept: police officers charging into a home on the authority of a piece of paper. Or, if it’s a slightly more exciting plot, loose cannon detectives throwing caution to the wind and opting to commit a search without a warrant…creating problems for the lawyers later on in the episode.
But in the real world, what does a search warrant actually entail? And when do the police need one to perform a search? Below we cover some of the most frequently asked questions about search warrants in Queensland.
What is a Search Warrant?
In Queensland, the police generally do not have the right to search a person or premises (though exception do apply and are outlined below). However, if the officers obtain a search warrant they will be allowed to both enter the premises and search therein.
A search warrant is a written order issued by a judge or magistrate that grants police the authority to enter and search a premises at a specified date and time for the narrow purpose of seizing specified evidence which is believed to be connected to the commission of a crime.
Searching a Residence
The police may try to enter a residence in order to conduct a search in order to obtain evidence relating to a crime. If the police are allowed to enter the premises and commit a search, then it is best for you to not answer any questions as any statements (including confessions) that you make may be used against you.
With a Warrant
If the police have a warrant, you should first ask to see it and then insist on receiving a copy of the warrant. Pay attention to the details and make note of anything that seems incorrect. Even with a warrant, the police may only stay as long as is reasonably necessary to complete the task outlined in the warrant. When entering the property, the police must also provide you with a list of their powers under the warrant, possibly including (but not limited to):
- Removing wall, floor, or ceiling panels when searching for evidence
- Photographing possible evidence
- Digging
- Seizing your property as evidence
- Opening locked safes, cupboards, chests, filing cabinets, etc.
- Detaining or searching individuals on the premises to determine if they have anything detailed on the warrant.
If your property is damaged by a police search authorized by a warrant which allows forced entry and they find drugs or evidence of an offence, then you probably won’t be compensated for the damage. However, if no evidence is produced, you should contact the senior police officer to file an official complaint.
Without a Warrant
If the police do not have a warrant, you can usually refuse them entry. If you refuse them entry, do so respectfully by clearly stating that you are not inviting them in and do not give your consent for them to remain on the property.
However, there are times when Queensland police can enter a property without a warrant or your consent, including:
- To arrest a person they reasonably suspect is located on the property
- To conduct a breathalyzer test
- To serve legal documents or notices
- When there is a seriously injured person on the premises
- To search for evidence that they reasonable suspect will be otherwise destroyed or hidden
- To reach a crime scene
- To detain someone under an anti-terrorism preventative detention order.
When they enter without a warrant for any of these reasons, they are only permitted to do so for the reasonable amount of time it would take them to perform the action or serve the document. If they are entering sans warrant to arrest or detain someone, the officer must have a reasonable suspicion that the person is actually on the premises. Reasonable suspicion, like reasonable time, is fairly subjective. But most courts agree that there needs to be some fact which would cause a reasonably minded person to conclude something.
Searching Your Person, Belongings, or Vehicle
Though the police are not automatically authorized to conduct a search of your person, belongings, or car, they may do so (even without a warrant) if they have a reasonable suspicion that any of the following items are in your possession:
- Weapons
- Illegal drugs or paraphernalia
- Stolen property
- Graffiti instruments
- Housebreaking or car stealing instruments
- Something you intend to harm yourself or others with
- Evidence of drinking alcohol in a public place
- Evidence of either willful damage or an offence punishable by 7 years jail-time.
If a police officer may legally search you, then the searching officer must be of your same sex, respect your dignity, and limit the scope of the search as much as possible. In the case of a strip search the police may not search your body cavities and respect your privacy.
Cellphones/Computers
In Queensland, the search warrant must specifically state that the search is meant to include your computer or cellphone. If it does not, then you have the legal right to refuse access. If it does, then you are legally required to provide the necessary passwords and facilitate access as best you can.