At a committal hearing, a magistrate will listen to the evidence and decide if it’s enough for the defendant to be tried in either the Supreme, County or District court.

• If the magistrate decides there is enough evidence, the defendant will be committed for trial. This means the matter will be heard in one of the higher courts at a later date. After the committal hearing, the prosecution will review the evidence and determine whether an indictment should be presented in the higher court.

• If the magistrate decides there is not enough evidence they may dismiss the defendant.  

Matters that are less serious in nature are referred to as summary offences. A summary, or simple offence is tried by a magistrate alone. Examples of Commonwealth summary offences include less serious cases of fraud and drug offences.

Serious criminal matters are also known as indictable offences and are sent from a lower court to either the Supreme, County or District Court. Indictable offences require a trial by judge and jury. Examples of Commonwealth indictable offences include major drug importation cases, terrorism offences and fraud cases where the sum of money involved is large.

How long a case takes depends on how complex it is, and whether it involves a trial and appeals. In general:

• Summary matters are generally straightforward and can be finalised in a matter of months if a defendant pleads guilty. If the matter goes to a hearing, it can take 6–12 months to finalise, or longer depending on the issues involved. If the defendant appeals the outcome, that process can add another six months.

• Indictable matters that are heard in a supreme, district or county court always involve more serious offences and will take longer to finalise. If a defendant pleads guilty it is sometimes possible to finalise the matter within 6–8 months, but if it goes to trial it may take up to two years or longer. If the defendant appeals the outcome, this can add six months or more.

See the eight steps in the prosecution process to get a better understanding of what going to court involves.

Remember: Ask the CDPP prosecutor or your WAS case officer how long your particular case is likely to take. 

A plea negotiation is when the prosecution and defence agree on the criminal charges they want the judge to take into account. Such negotiations may see the accused person:

• plead guilty to fewer charges

• plead guilty to a less severe, or different, charges

A subpoena is a court order that requires a witness to go to court to give evidence and/or provide documents requested by the court. The CDPP arranges subpoenas to be served on victims and witnesses who have to give evidence in court.

• If you are served with a subpoena, make sure you read it carefully. It will tell you what you have to do.

• If the subpoena says you must go to court and give evidence and you fail to appear, the court may issue a warrant ordering your arrest, and for you to be brought before the court.

• Similarly, if the subpoena says you must take documents to court and you don't take them or send them, the court may issue a warrant ordering your arrest, and for you to be brought before the court. The court will require you to provide the required documents.

• If you receive a subpoena and are not sure what you have to do, talk to a lawyer for legal advice.

We will go ahead with a prosecution if we can answer ‘yes’ to two questions:

• Are there reasonable prospects of the accused being found guilty?
• Is it in the public interest to start a prosecution?

Our prosecutors assess briefs referred to the CDPP in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth.

There is generally no right to review a decision. 

The only exception are cases where it’s been decided not to start or to stop a child sexual abuse matter, where a child has made the complaint. In this instance, the CDPP may be asked to review the decision.

• Before a decision is made, the victim is consulted and the matter is discussed by senior prosecutors within the CDPP.

• If a case doesn’t go ahead, the reasons are always explained to victims.

A Statement of Facts summarises what happened when the crime is said to have taken place. The facts are prepared by the prosecutor and provided to the accused’s lawyer.