Commonwealth Director Of Public Prosecutions
Government in Cairns

We aim to bear an effective, ethical, high quality and autonomous criminal prosecution service for Australia in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth. We will yield an effective and efficient autonomous prosecution service that contributes to a fair, sound and honest Australia where Commonwealth laws are respected, offenders are brought to justice and potential offenders are deterred. Be fair, consistent and professional in everything we do. recognize, value and develop the knowledge, skills and commitment of our people. Labor with our partner agencies to assist them in advancing their goals and priorities in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth. Treat victims of crime with courtesy, dignity and respect. The Office is lower the control of the Director, who is appointed for a term of up to seven years.

We rely upon Commonwealth investigative agencies to produce briefs of evidence and we labor closely together to prepare and present cases in court. The CD PP has no investigative function and we can only prosecute where there has been an investigation by another agency. The criminal prosecution process can be long and complex, and involves a host of people, ranging from investigators, prosecutors and court staff to the defendant and their solicitors. The role of the investigator is to receive statements from witnesses and compile evidence to be worn in criminal prosecution. The CD PP applies the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth to all Commonwealth prosecutions regardless of the jurisdiction in which they are prosecuted. A person charged with committing a criminal offense or offenses in a higher court. Until a person is proved to be guilty of a crime, the person is an alleged offender, an accused or a defendant. The test (or standard of proof) impaired by a jury, judge or magistrate to decide if the accused or defendant is guilty or not guilty of each criminal charge. A hearing of all the evidence supporting the charge in the below court by a magistrate who then decides if there is adequate evidence for the case to go to trial. The accused person’s case and the lawyers who represent them. A person who is charged with a criminal offense. A proceeding where the evidence is presented to the court after an accused or defendant has pleaded not guilty. The Judge decides the sentence for offenders. The Magistrate decides the sentence for offenders when found guilty. A plea made by an accused person to a criminal charge which then requires the prosecution to prove the person’s guilt in court. If an accused pleads guilty a trial does not receive store and the matter proceeds to a sentencing hearing. In higher courts a trial is conducted earlier a Judge and jury. A important amount of labor is conducted by the CD PP in relation to the prosecution of pensive drug offenses, particularly offenses involving the importation of drugs and precursors. Drug and precursor offenses are among the maximum pensive Commonwealth offenses and seduce substantial penalties under Portion 9.1 of the Criminal Code, including imprisonment for life for offenses involving the importation a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. The CD PP also prosecutes State and Territory drug offenses, usually where the investigation involves a Commonwealth agency and it is good for the CD PP to conduct the prosecution. The greatest penalty for manufacturing a controlled drug is 10 years imprisonment or 12 years imprisonment for an aggravated offense. The maximum penalties for trafficking controlled drug offenses are as follows: The greatest penalty for an offense of slavery is 25 years imprisonment. In accordance with the Witness Assistance Service Referral Guidelines which were issued as Director’s Litigation Instruction No.14, all victims of slavery and sexual servitude offenses must be referred to the Witness Assistance Service so that good information and urge is available throughout the prosecution process.