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CRIMES ACT 1900

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

  • 1 Name of Act  
  • 2 Application of Act  
  • 4 Dictionary  
  • 5 Meaning of loaded arms  
  • 6 Reference to the jury read as reference to magistrate  
  • 7 Notes  
  • 7A Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc  
  • 8 Public place etc  
  • 9 Abolition of distinctions between felony and misdemeanour  

PART 2--OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON

  • 9A Meaning of aggravated offence—pt 2  
  • 10 When child born alive  
  • 11 No time limit on criminal responsibility for homicide  
  • 12 Murder  
  • 13 Trial for murder—provocation  
  • 14 Trial for murder—diminished responsibility  
  • 15 Manslaughter  
  • 16 Suicide etc—not an offence  
  • 17 Suicide—aiding etc  
  • 18 Prevention of suicide  
  • 19 Intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm  
  • 20 Recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm  
  • 21 Wounding  
  • 22 Assault with intent to commit other offence  
  • 23 Inflicting actual bodily harm  
  • 24 Assault occasioning actual bodily harm  
  • 25 Causing grievous bodily harm  
  • 26 Common assault  
  • 26A Assault of frontline community service provider  
  • 26B Assault of frontline community service provider—alternative  
  • 27 Acts endangering life etc  
  • 28 Acts endangering health etc  
  • 28AA Food or drink spiking  
  • 28A Throwing etc objects at vehicles  
  • 28B Discharging firearm at building or conveyance  
  • 29 Culpable driving of motor vehicle  
  • 29A Driving motor vehicle at police  
  • 29B Damaging police vehicle  
  • 30 Threat to kill  
  • 31 Threat to inflict grievous bodily harm  
  • 32 Demands accompanied by threats  
  • 33 Possession of object with intent to kill etc  
  • 34 Forcible confinement  
  • 35 Stalking  
  • 35A Affray  
  • 35AA Affray—alternative verdicts  
  • 35AB Review—affray provisions  
  • 36 Torture  
  • 36A Abuse of vulnerable person  
  • 36B Failure to protect vulnerable person from criminal offence  
  • 36C Neglect of vulnerable person  
  • 37 Abduction of young person  
  • 38 Kidnapping  
  • 39 Neglect etc of children  
  • 40 Unlawfully taking child etc  
  • 41 Exposing or abandoning child  
  • 42 Child destruction  
  • 43 Childbirth—grievous bodily harm  
  • 47 Concealment of birth  
  • 48 Misconduct with regard to corpses  
  • 48A Aggravated offences—pt 2 offences against pregnant women  
  • 48B Alternative verdicts for aggravated offences—pt 2 offences against pregnant  
  • 48C Aggravated offences—pt 2 offences involving family violence  
  • 48D Alternative verdicts for aggravated offences—offences involving family  
  • 49 Alternative verdicts for certain other offences against the person  

PART 3--SEXUAL OFFENCES

  • 50A Objects—pt 3  
  • 50B Meaning of consent—pt 3  
  • 50C Meaning of sexual act—pt 3  
  • 50 Definitions—pt 3  
  • 51 Sexual assault in the first degree  
  • 52 Sexual assault in the second degree  
  • 53 Sexual assault in the third degree  
  • 54 Sexual intercourse without consent  
  • 55 Sexual intercourse with young person  
  • 55A Sexual intercourse with young person under special care  
  • 56 Persistent sexual abuse of child or young person under special care  
  • 57 Act of indecency in the first degree  
  • 58 Act of indecency in the second degree  
  • 59 Act of indecency in the third degree  
  • 60 Act of indecency without consent  
  • 61 Acts of indecency with young people  
  • 61A Act of indecency with young person under special care  
  • 61B Intimate observations or capturing visual data etc  
  • 62 Incest and similar offences  
  • 63 Abduction  
  • 63A Bestiality  
  • 64 Using child for production of child exploitation material etc  
  • 64A Trading in child exploitation material  
  • 65 Possessing child exploitation material  
  • 66 Grooming and depraving young people  
  • 66AA Failure to report child sexual offence  
  • 66AB Making false report about child sexual offence  
  • 66A Failure by person in authority to protect child or young person from sexual  
  • 66B Course of conduct charge—child sexual offences  
  • 67 When a person does not consent to an act  
  • 67A Words, actions and self-induced intoxication of accused person  
  • 68 Sexual intercourse—people not to be presumed incapable by reason of  
  • 69 Marriage no bar to conviction  
  • 70 Alternative verdicts for certain sexual offences  
  • 71 Adding count for act of indecency  
  • 72 Indictment for act of indecency  
  • 72AA Aggravated offences—pt 3 offences involving family violence  
  • 72AB Alternative verdicts for aggravated offences—offences involving family violence  

PART 3A--INTIMATE IMAGE ABUSE

  • 72A Definitions—pt 3A  
  • 72B Meaning of distribute—pt 3A  
  • 72C Non-consensual distribution of intimate images  
  • 72D Distribution of intimate image of young person  
  • 72E Threaten to capture or distribute intimate images  
  • 72EA Aggravated offences—pt 3A offences involving family violence  
  • 72EB Alternative verdicts for aggravated offences—offences involving family violence  
  • 72F Consent—pt 3A  
  • 72G Exceptions for reasonable distribution  
  • 72H Court may order rectification  

PART 4--FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

  • 73 Meaning of female genital mutilation for pt 4  
  • 74 Prohibition of female genital mutilation  
  • 75 Removal of child from ACT for genital mutilation  
  • 76 Exception—medical procedures for genuine therapeutic purposes  
  • 77 Exception—sexual reassignment procedures  

PART 5--SEXUAL SERVITUDE

  • 78 Meaning of sexual servitude and sexual services for pt  
  • 79 Sexual servitude offences  
  • 80 Deceptive recruiting for sexual services  
  • 81 Sexual servitude offence etc against person younger than 18 years—charges  
  • 82 Alternative verdicts—sexual servitude offence etc  

PART 6--OFFENCES RELATING TO PROPERTY

Division 6.2A--Money laundering and organised fraud

  • 114A Definitions for div 6.2A  
  • 114B Money laundering  
  • 114C Possession etc of property suspected of being proceeds of crime  
  • 114D Organised fraud  

Division 6.3--Criminal damage to property

  • 115 Interpretation for div 6.3  
  • 116 Destroying or damaging property  
  • 117 Arson  
  • 119 Defacing premises  
  • 120 Defacing premises––strict liability  
  • 122 Untrue representations  
  • 123 Alternative verdicts—criminal damage to property offences  

Division 6.6--Contamination of goods and related offences

  • 135 Definitions of contaminate and goods  
  • 136 Meaning of economic loss  
  • 137 Contaminating goods with intent to cause public alarm or economic loss  
  • 138 Threatening to contaminate goods with intent to cause public alarm or economic  
  • 139 Making false statements about contamination of goods with intent to cause public alarm  
  • 140 Territorial nexus for offences  

Division 6.7--Offences relating to causing public alarm

  • 140A Acting with intent to cause public alarm  
  • 140B Threatening to act with intent to cause public alarm  
  • 140C Making false statements with intent to cause public alarm  
  • 140D Territorial nexus for offences  

Division 6.8--Miscellaneous

  • 141 Hindering working of mines  
  • 142 Removal of sea banks etc  
  • 143 Obstructing navigation of rivers  
  • 144 Offences in relation to railways  
  • 145 Obstructing railway engines  
  • 146 Alternative verdict  
  • 147 Displaying false signals  
  • 148 Removing or concealing buoys etc  
  • 151 Forcible entry on land  
  • 152 Forcible detainer of land  
  • 153 Disclosure of information by territory officer  
  • 154 Additional offences on territory premises  

PART 7--ESCAPE PROVISIONS

  • 158 Meaning of detention during pleasure  
  • 159 Aiding prisoner to escape  
  • 160 Escaping  
  • 161 Rescuing a prisoner from custody etc  
  • 162 Person unlawfully at large  
  • 163 Permitting escape  
  • 164 Harbouring etc escapee  
  • 166 Failure to answer bail etc—offence  

PART 8--ANABOLIC STEROIDS

  • 170 Meaning of anabolic steroid  
  • 171 Prescribing and supplying anabolic steroids  
  • 172 Possessing anabolic steroids  
  • 173 Administering anabolic steroids  

PART 9--EXCLUSION POWERS

  • 174 Definitions—pt 9  
  • 175 Exclusion direction  
  • 176 Exclusion zone  
  • 177 Exclusion direction—information to be given  
  • 178 Exclusion direction—information to be recorded  
  • 179 Failing to comply with exclusion direction  

PART 10--CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Division 10.1--Preliminary

  • 185 Definitions for pt 10  
  • 185A Search of transgender or intersex person  
  • 186 Application of pt 10  
  • 187 Application of Cwlth Crimes Act, pt 1C  

Division 10.2--Preventative action

  • 188 Police powers of entry  
  • 189 Issue of warrant  
  • 190 Entry in emergencies  
  • 191 Seizure of firearms—warrants and emergencies  
  • 192 Seizure of firearms—protection orders  
  • 193 Power to conduct search of person for knife  

Division 10.3--Search warrants

  • 194 When search warrants can be issued  
  • 194A Electronic versions of affidavits and warrants  
  • 195 The things that are authorised by search warrant  
  • 196 Availability of assistance and use of force in executing warrant  
  • 197 Details of warrant to be given to occupier etc  
  • 198 Specific powers available to police officers executing warrant  
  • 199 Use of equipment to examine or process things  
  • 200 Use of electronic equipment at premises  
  • 201 Compensation for damage to electronic equipment  
  • 202 Copies of seized things to be provided  
  • 203 Occupier entitled to be present during search  
  • 204 Receipts for things seized under warrant  
  • 205 Warrants by telephone or other electronic means  
  • 206 Restrictions on personal searches  

Division 10.4--Powers to stop and search

  • 207 Stopping, searching and detaining people  
  • 208 How a police officer exercises a power under s 207  
  • 209 Stopping, searching and detaining conveyances  
  • 210 How a police officer exercises a power under s 209  

Division 10.4A--Crime scene powers

  • 210A Definitions—div 10.4A  
  • 210B Meaning of public place—div 10.4A  
  • 210C Establish crime scene—public place  
  • 210D Establish crime scene—private premises  
  • 210E When crime scene established  
  • 210F Senior police officer to be told about crime scene  
  • 210G Crime scene powers  
  • 210H Crime scene—duration  
  • 210I Crime scene—frequency  
  • 210J Crime scene obligations—all places  
  • 210K Crime scene obligations—conveyances  
  • 210L Offence—fail to comply with direction  

Division 10.5--Arrest and related matters

  • 211 Requirement to provide name etc  
  • 212 Power of arrest without warrant by police officers  
  • 213 Arrest without warrant in possession  
  • 214 Arrest of prisoner unlawfully at large  
  • 217 Arrest without warrant for offences committed outside ACT  
  • 218 Power of arrest without warrant by other persons  
  • 219 Warrants for arrest  
  • 220 Power to enter premises to arrest offender  
  • 221 Use of force in making arrest  
  • 222 Persons to be informed of grounds of arrest  
  • 223 Power to conduct frisk search of arrested person  
  • 224 Power to conduct ordinary search of arrested person  
  • 225 Power to conduct search of arrested person's premises  
  • 226 Power to conduct search at police station  
  • 227 Power to conduct strip search  
  • 228 Rules for conduct of strip search  
  • 229 Safekeeping of things seized  
  • 230 Identification material—person at least 18 years old  
  • 230A Identification material—person under 18 years old  
  • 231 Destruction of identification material  
  • 232 Offence—refusing to allow fingerprint or photo to be taken  
  • 233 Identification parades—general  
  • 234 Identification parades for suspects under 18 etc  
  • 235 Identification by means of photographs  
  • 236 Identification procedures if more than 1 suspect  
  • 237 Descriptions  
  • 238 Examination  

Division 10.6--General

  • 239 Assisting officers—search and arrest of persons  
  • 240 Conduct of ordinary searches and frisk searches  
  • 241 Announcement before entry  
  • 242 Offence of making false statements in warrants  
  • 243 Offences relating to telephone warrants  
  • 244 Return of seized knife or thing  
  • 245 Magistrates Court may permit thing to be retained  
  • 247 Laws relating to taking forensic samples not affected  
  • 248 Forfeiture of knife  
  • 249 Seizure of forfeited articles  
  • 250 Disposal of forfeited articles by public trustee  
  • 252 When case not to be proceeded with gaoler to discharge prisoner on certificate from  

Division 10.7--Particular provisions for children

Subdivision 10.7.1--Arrest of children under the age of criminal responsibility
  • 252A Warrant for arrest of child under the age of criminal  
  • 252B Arrest of child under the age of criminal responsibility—without  
  • 252C Police action after arresting child under the age of criminal  
  • Subdivision 10.7.2--Preliminary procedures in relation to children and young people
  • 252D Definitions—subdiv 10.7.2  
  • 252E Meaning of under restraint  
  • 252F Meaning of in the company of a police officer  
  • 252G Interviewing children and young people about offences  
  • 252H Interviewing children and young people about offences—urgent  
  • 252I Parents etc to be told if children and young people under restraint  
  • 252J Police to summons young people unless ineffective  
  • 252K Parents etc to be told if young people charged  

Division 10.8--Investigations relating to acquittals

  • 252L Authorisation of police investigations—acquitted person  

Division 10.9--Fortification of premises

  • 252M Definitions—div 10.9  
  • 252N Fortification removal order—application for order or variation  
  • 252O Fortification removal order  
  • 252P Fortification removal order—length  
  • 252Q Fortification removal order—compliance period  
  • 252R Fortification removal order—inspection  
  • 252S Fortification removal order—removal by police  
  • 252T Fortification inspection order—application for order or variation  
  • 252U Fortification inspection order  
  • 252V Fortification inspection order—length  
  • 252W Fortification inspection order—inspection  
  • 252X Exercising powers—announce entry and explain purpose  
  • 252Y Exercising powers—occupier entitled to be present during  
  • 252Z Exercising powers—use reasonable force  
  • 252ZA Premises must not be fortified  
  • 252ZB Fortification must not be replaced or restored  
  • 252ZC Protection from liability  
  • 252ZD Chief police officer delegations  

PART 11--INVESTIGATION OF EXTRATERRITORIAL OFFENCES

  • 253 Interpretation for pt 11  
  • 254 Declaration of corresponding law  
  • 255 Issue of search warrants  
  • 256 Authority given by search warrant  
  • 257 Offence of hindering execution of search warrant  
  • 258 Ministerial arrangements for transmission and return of objects seized under pt 11 or  

PART 12--PROCEDURE, EVIDENCE, VERDICT ETC

  • 260 What defects do not vitiate indictment  
  • 261 Formal objections—when to be taken  
  • 262 Judgment on demurrer to indictment  
  • 263 Traversing indictment  
  • 264 Orders for amendment of indictment, separate trial and postponement of  
  • 265 Amended indictment  
  • 266 Verdict and judgment valid after amendment  
  • 267 Form of record after amendment  
  • 268 Respiting undertakings on postponement  
  • 269 Separate offences—when can be joined  
  • 270 Accessories may be charged together in 1 indictment  
  • 271 Indictment charging previous offence also  
  • 272 Property of partners or joint owners  
  • 273 Description of written instruments  
  • 274 General averment of intent to defraud or injure  
  • 275 Indictment for murder or manslaughter  
  • 276 Form of indictment against accessories to murder  
  • 277 Addition of count for assault  
  • 279 Indictments for conspiracy  
  • 280 Arraignment etc on charge of previous conviction  
  • 280A Treason trials  
  • 281 Plea of not guilty  
  • 282 Refusal to plead  
  • 283 Plea of autrefois convict etc  
  • 284 Practice as to entering the dock  
  • 285 Accused may be defended by lawyer  
  • 286 Right to inspect depositions on trial  
  • 287 Power of judge to record verdict of acquittal  
  • 288 Notice of alibi  
  • 289 Abolition of presumption of marital coercion  
  • 290 Incriminating statements admissible though on oath  
  • 291 Evidence of previous conviction charged in indictment  
  • 292 Proof of lawful authority or excuse  
  • 294 Order of closing addresses  
  • 295 Witnesses in mitigation  
  • 296 Conviction for alternative offence  
  • 297 After trial for offence, if alternative verdict possible, no further  
  • 298 On trial for any offence—verdict of attempt  
  • 299 Multiple alternative verdicts  

PART 13--UNFITNESS TO PLEAD AND MENTAL IMPAIRMENT

Division 13.1--Preliminary

  • 300 Definitions for pt 13  
  • 301 Limitation on orders and detention—non-acquittals  
  • 302 Limitation on orders and detention—acquittals  
  • 303 Limitation on Supreme Court orders  
  • 304 Limitation on orders and detention—dismissal of charge  
  • 305 Limitation on orders and detention—Magistrates Court  
  • 306 Limitation on Magistrates Court orders  
  • 307 How relevant court may inform itself  
  • 308 Criteria for detention  
  • 309 Assessment whether emergency detention required  

Division 13.2--Unfitness to plead

  • 310 Application of div 13.2  
  • 311 When a person is unfit to plead  
  • 312 Presumption of fitness to plead, standard of proof etc  
  • 313 Who can raise question of unfitness to plead  
  • 314 Procedure if question raised  
  • 315 Procedure if question reserved for investigation  
  • 315A Investigation into fitness to plead  
  • 315B Person found fit to plead  
  • 315C Person found unfit to plead and unlikely to become fit to plead  
  • 315D Person found temporarily unfit to plead  
  • 316 Special hearing  
  • 317 Verdicts available at special hearing  
  • 318 Non-acquittal at special hearing—non-serious offence  
  • 319 Non-acquittal at special hearing—serious offence  
  • 319A Action if accused becomes fit to plead after special hearing  

Division 13.3--Supreme Court—special verdict of not guilty because of mental impairment

  • 321 Supreme Court—plea of not guilty because of mental impairment  
  • 322 Explanation to jury  
  • 323 Supreme Court orders following special verdict of not guilty because of mental  
  • 324 Supreme Court orders following special verdict of not guilty because of mental  

Division 13.4--Magistrates Court—finding of not guilty because of mental impairment

  • 325 Meaning of serious offence in div 13.4  
  • 327 Magistrates Court—plea of not guilty because of mental impairment  
  • 328 Magistrates Court orders following finding of not guilty because of mental  
  • 329 Magistrates Court orders following finding of not guilty because of mental  

Division 13.5--Referring people with mental impairment to ACAT after conviction

  • 330 Application of div 13.5  
  • 331 Referral to ACAT  

Division 13.6--Summary proceedings against mentally impaired people

  • 332 Application of div 13.6  
  • 333 Indictable offences heard and determined summarily  
  • 334 Powers of Magistrates Court  
  • 335 Fitness to plead—Magistrates Court  
  • 335A Action if accused becomes fit to plead after hearing  
  • 336 How Magistrates Court may be informed  

PART 16--PROCEEDINGS AFTER SENTENCE

  • 367 Procedure on forfeiture  
  • 371 What not sufficient to stay or reverse judgment  
  • 372 Pronouncing proper judgment  
  • 373 New trials regulated  

PART 17--OFFENCES PUNISHABLE SUMMARILY AND SUMMARY PROCEDURE GENERALLY

  • 374 Summary disposal of certain cases at prosecutor's election  
  • 375 Summary disposal of certain cases—Magistrates Court  
  • 375AA Summary disposal of certain cases—Childrens Court  
  • 375A Withdrawal of consent to summary disposal of case  
  • 376 Saving of other summary jurisdiction  
  • 377 Certificate of dismissal  
  • 378 Summary conviction or dismissal bar to indictment  
  • 379 Misbehaviour at public meetings  
  • 380 Possession of offensive weapons and disabling substances  
  • 381 Possession of offensive weapons and disabling substances with intent  
  • 382 Possession of knife in public place or school  
  • 383 Sale of knife to person under 16  
  • 384 Retail supplier of knives to display sign  
  • 385 Laying of poison  
  • 387 Making false invoice  
  • 388 Application of compensation  
  • 389 Obstruction of stream etc  
  • 390 Entrance to cellars etc  
  • 391 Fighting  
  • 392 Offensive behaviour  
  • 393 Indecent exposure  
  • 393A Urinating in public place  
  • 394 Noise abatement directions  
  • 395 Bogus advertisements  
  • 396 Public mischief  
  • 397 Apprehended violence or injury—recognisance to keep the peace etc  
  • 398 Alternative methods of proceeding before magistrate  
  • 399 General averment of intent to defraud or injure  

PART 20--INQUIRIES INTO CONVICTIONS

Division 20.1--Preliminary

  • 421 Definitions for pt 20  

Division 20.2--How to start inquiry

Division 20.3--Inquiry procedure

  • 426 Application of Inquiries Act  
  • 427 Appointment of board of inquiry  
  • 428 Report by board  

Division 20.4--Supreme Court orders following inquiry report

  • 429 Publication of report  
  • 430 Action on report by Supreme Court  

Division 20.5--Application to earlier convictions

  • 432 Inquiries about earlier convictions  

PART 22--MISCELLANEOUS

  • 434A Application of certain sections of Commonwealth Crimes Act to territory  
  • 434B Joinder of charges  
  • 434C Aggravated offence may allege more than 1 factor of aggravation  
  • 435 Protection of persons acting under Act  
  • 437 Power of courts to bring detainees before them  
  • 438 Witnesses neglecting to attend trial and captured under warrant may be admitted to  
  • 439 Offence of criminal defamation  
  • 440 Prosecutions for blasphemy  
  • 441 Retrospective repeal of limitation period on criminal proceeding for particular sexual  
  • 441A Criminal proceedings not allowed by section 441  
  • 441B Retrospective application of repealed alternative verdict provision for carnal  
  • 442 Change of venue  
  • 442A Record of youth offence particulars not to be disclosed in court  
  • 442C Review of operation of offences of abuse of vulnerable people  
  • 442D Review—pt 3  
  • 443 Approved forms  
  • 444 Regulation-making power  

PART 33--TRANSITIONAL--JUSTICE (AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY) LEGISLATION AMENDMENT ACT 2023

Division 33.1--General

Division 33.2--Ending action etc for youth offences

  • 625 Application—div 33.2  
  • 626 Law enforcement action  
  • 627 Criminal procedures, proceedings and sentences  
  • 628 Destruction of forensic material etc  
  • 629 Release of person from custody  

Division 33.3--Validity of past criminal justice action

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