Penalties & outcomes
Will I go to jail?
The question everyone asks first, answered honestly for the most common NSW charges: what the maximum penalties are, what courts actually do, and what changes the outcome. General information, not advice on your matter.
Will I go to jail for drink driving in NSW?
For most first-offence low and mid-range PCA matters, jail is unlikely; fines, disqualification and interlock orders are the usual…
Read the full answer Penalties & outcomesWill I go to jail for drug possession in NSW?
Jail for simple possession of a small quantity is uncommon for a first offence; fines, conditional release orders and non-convicti…
Read the full answer Penalties & outcomesWill I go to jail for drug supply in NSW?
Supply is where NSW courts get genuinely tough: for indictable quantities, full-time imprisonment is a common outcome, and for lar…
Read the full answer Penalties & outcomesWill I go to jail for common assault in NSW?
Jail for a first-offence common assault is uncommon; fines, bonds and conditional release orders are the usual range, and a well-p…
Read the full answer Penalties & outcomesWill I go to jail for breaching an AVO in NSW?
Courts treat AVO breaches seriously, and knowingly violent breaches attract real custody. But many alleged breaches are technical,…
Read the full answer Penalties & outcomesWill I go to jail for Centrelink fraud in NSW?
It depends heavily on the amount and the period. Small overpayments handled early often resolve without custody, and sometimes wit…
Read the full answer Penalties & outcomesWill I go to jail for driving while disqualified in NSW?
Courts see disqualified driving as defiance of a court order, so it is treated more seriously than most traffic offences, and repe…
Read the full answer Penalties & outcomesWill I go to jail for affray in NSW?
Affray carries a startling 10-year maximum, and courts do imprison for serious group violence. But the charge is also routinely la…
Read the full answerThe earlier we start, the more we can do.
Whether you’ve been charged, arrested, or are helping a family member, the earliest advice is the most valuable.