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The Daily Insight

What is a summarily offence?

Author

Rachel Ross

Updated on March 02, 2026

What is a summarily offence?

Crimes which can only be heard and decided by a magistrate in the magistrates court are called summary offences. In general, these offences are less serious than indictable offences and the penalties that can be imposed are not as great.

What are indictable offences triable summarily?

Indictable offences include assault, stealing, fraud, murder, robbery and burglary. Some of these offences, such as stealing and theft, can be dealt with either summarily (in the Magistrates Court) or on indictment (in the Supreme Court or District Court).

What can be heard summarily?

An indictable offence may be heard summarily if:

  • The charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine of not more than 1200 units or both; or.
  • The charge is referred to in schedule 2 of the CPA 2009.

What are examples of indictable offences?

Examples of Indictable Offence Charges

  • Breaking and entering a property.
  • Manslaughter.
  • Murder.
  • Terrorism.
  • Trafficking.
  • Aggravated Assault.

What does triable summarily mean?

An offence that can be tried only in a magistrates’ court. See summary offence.

Is theft a summary only offence?

Summary only offences are of lower severity and include most driving offences and common assault. These can only be tried in magistrates’ court. Either way offences cover a wide range of crimes including theft, possession of drugs and ABH, and can be tried in either court.

Is manslaughter an indictable Offence?

Charges of murder and manslaughter are indictable offences, which can only be heard by the District Court or Supreme Court.

What is a non indictable Offence?

A non-indictable offense — which is considered either a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense — are those crimes for which the accused may be incarcerated for a period less than six months. One difference between the two types of crimes is where and how they are handled.

What is a non indictable offense?

Are all Offences in Crimes Act indictable?

In New South Wales the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 states that a matter may be either strictly indictable offence (such as murder), an indictable offence which may be heard summarily, or a summary offence.

What is a non-indictable offence?

What is not an indictable offence?

SUMMARY or non-indictable offences are a creation of statute, not part. of the common law. ” Summary ” means that they are dealt with by magistrates using their powers of summary jurisdiction.

What are “offences triable summarily”?

There are many other indictable offences though known as “offences triable summarily”, such as Burglary, Indecent Assault, Trafficking a Drug of Dependence, and Theft. If you are charged with an offence “triable summarily” and you have pleaded Not Guilty, you will be asked if you consent to the case being dealt with in the Magistrates Court.

What are the different types of indictable offences?

Some indictable offences, including murder, rape or terrorism offences, may only be heard by a Judge as a Plea hearing or a Trial in the County or Supreme Courts. There are many other indictable offences though known as “offences triable summarily”, such as Burglary, Indecent Assault, Trafficking a Drug of Dependence, and Theft.

Can an indictable offence be heard by a Magistrates Court?

But some indictable offences may only be heard by a Judge as a Plea hearing or a Trial in the County or Supreme Courts. If you are charged with an indictable offence that is eligible to be heard summarily, you will be asked if you consent to the case being dealt with in the Magistrates Court jurisdiction.

How do I find out if an offence is indictable?

See the Crimes Act 1958 for information about offences deemed as indictable. Some indictable offences may be heard in the Magistrates’ Court by way of summary hearing in the same way as summary offences are heard – your lawyer can advise you if this applies to your offences. See the summary offences page.