This submission responds to the NSW Law Reform Commission Consultation Paper 15: Encouraging appropriate early guilty pleas. This submission is informed by the casework of HPLS, and identifies two main areas which warrant attention in order to encourage appropriate early pleas:
The need for additional intermediate sentencing options for homeless people with mental illness or drug/alcohol dependency, so as to provide incentive for early guilty pleas; and
The need for the police and prosecution to provide all evidentiary material to be considered by the first court hearing date, to enable the accused to make an informed decision whether to plead guilty.
