Online sentencing database access extended to criminal lawyers

Legal practitioners in criminal law will be able to access Queensland's online sentencing database from their own chambers at no cost in coming weeks, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine announced today.

Mr Shine said the Queensland Sentencing Information Service (QSIS) would become available to private criminal law practitioners from 1 July.

“I am pleased to make the announcement during Law Week (12 to 19 May) in Queensland. Broadening access to QSIS to solicitors and barristers in their own offices will allow them to provide a better service to their clients during submissions on sentencing," Mr Shine said.

“Access is already available to legal practitioners and members of the public through Supreme Court Library kiosks in Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton.

"Practitioners who want to access the system remotely will need to meet certain criteria and will have a user name and password.

"Access will also be subject to terms of use, largely due to copyright restrictions.

“To organise access, practitioners need to apply through the QSIS email address qsis@justice.qld.gov.au.”

QSIS was launched in March following the Government’s commitment last year of $2.6 million over four years to develop, maintain and expand the new database.

Mr Shine said QSIS provided judges, magistrates, prosecutors and defenders with online access to high-quality information on case law, legislation and other sentencing-related research material.

“Judges and magistrates base their sentencing decisions largely on the learned submissions of legal counsel for the prosecution and defence,” he said.

“QSIS provides easy access to a growing database of research material that will help counsel prepare their submissions and guide the courts in evaluating them."

QSIS includes a complete set of state and federal legislation, as well as precedent case law from the High Court dating back to 1947 and the Queensland Court of Appeal from 2000.

The collection also includes Practice Directions, and a link to the Supreme and District Courts bench book.

QSIS also enables important decisions and announcements to be circulated quickly and efficiently through a ‘Recent Law’ page.

The database was developed in close collaboration with New South Wales, based on its highly successful Judicial Information Research System.

18 May 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au