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Bail Act 1992
9GSpecial or exceptional circumstances
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9G Special or exceptional circumstances
(1) This section applies if a court or authorised officer is required under
this part to be satisfied of the existence of special or exceptional
circumstances favouring the grant of bail to a person.
(2) A circumstance that would be an applicable bail criteria for the person
is not a special or exceptional circumstance only because it is an
applicable bail criteria.
(3) Also, the court or authorised officer must consider the applicable bail
criteria for the person only after the court or authorised officer is
satisfied of the existence of the special or exceptional circumstances.
Examples for s (3)
1 Damien is before the court charged with having committed an aggravated
robbery. He has earlier been charged with having committed aggravated
robbery. Section 9D applies and there is a presumption against bail unless
there are special or exceptional circumstances. Damien argues that there are
special circumstances as he needs to support his child, he may lose his job and
he may lose an opportunity to take up public housing. The court considers that
the circumstances are not special or exceptional. Bail is not granted and the
criteria in section 22 are not considered.
2 Jason is facing similar charges. Jason has had a car accident before his arrest
for the second offence. His kidneys are damaged requiring dialysis every
3 days. Jason argues that his need for regular treatment and his reduced
mobility mean that he is highly unlikely to abscond. The court considers these
circumstances are special or exceptional. The court then considers the criteria
in section 22 in deciding whether to grant bail.
Dispensing with bail Part 3