The Bar Book Project

THURSDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2019

This session focuses on the presentation of evidence of an offender’s background of disadvantage on sentence in criminal proceedings. The session provides a panel discussion concerning the relevance of a background of disadvantage on sentence; the manner in which such evidence might be presented to the court, and the potential role to be played in preparing to present such evidence on sentence by the new on-line resource recently launched by the Public Defenders office entitled ‘The Bar Book Project.

The Bar Book comprises a number of research summaries, or ‘chapters’, collating and distilling current, authoritative research concerning various forms of disadvantage and the potential impact of those experiences on persons coming into contact with the criminal justice system. The Bar Book also provides research summaries relating to a number of physical and mental conditions and the potential impacts of those conditions in addition to case law summaries where there has been judicial recognition of the type of disadvantage on sentence, in NSW courts, by other states and territories and abroad. The aim of the resource is to assist legal practitioners in presenting evidence on behalf of clients who have experienced disadvantage and deprivation, including experiences of disadvantage specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to achieve a broader educative function to deepen the understanding of experiences of disadvantage which often underlie offending behaviour. 

Speakers:

• The Hon Justice Stephen Rothman AM, Supreme Court of NSW
• ​Her Honour Judge S F Beckett, District Court of NSW
• Gabrielle Bashir SC

Chair:

• Tim Game SC

This seminar has been organised by the Criminal Law Committee of the NSW Bar Association.