Description

What is the Bugmy Bar Book?

Launched in 2019, the Bugmy Bar Book is a free, evidence-based resource hosted on the website of the NSW Public Defenders.

The project publishes accessible summaries of key research on the impacts of the experience of disadvantage and strengths-based rehabilitation. It provides objective research across several areas of disadvantage, to support both the application and decision-making processes, when subjective information is unable to be obtained.

The project is directed by a Committee comprised of representatives of key stakeholders in the criminal justice system (including the NSW Public Defenders, NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited and Legal Aid NSW), the judiciary (including the Supreme Court of NSW, District Court of NSW, Local Court of NSW, ACT Magistrates Court and NSW Judicial Commission), legal academics (including senior academics from UNSW, ANU and UTS) and members of the private legal profession. Although the project originated and is based in NSW, the resources are designed for use across all Australian jurisdictions and the committee engages with stakeholders Australia-wide.

Who is the Bugmy Bar Book For?

It aims to promote greater understanding of the impacts within the legal profession and judiciary, with the key function being to assist in the preparation and presentation of evidence to establish the application of the sentencing principles in Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571.

The application of the materials in the Bugmy Bar Book can also be used in other contexts, including bail and mental health diversionary applications, various civil practice areas, coronial inquests and other inquisitorial jurisdictions.

Other work being supported within the Bugmy Bar Book Project

The project also seeks to promote greater understanding of the strength and significance of culture and community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 2021, the project committee commissioned the expert report, Significance of Culture to Wellbeing, Healing & Rehabilitation (2021) by Indigenous psychologists, Vanessa Edwige and Dr Paul Gray, which has been cited in judgments of higher courts and in other expert reports.

In December 2021, the University of NSW received a grant from the Indigenous Justice Research Program, a partnership between the Australian Institute of Criminology, Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse and National Indigenous Australian’s Agency to complete an evaluation on the impact of the Bugmy Bar Book Resources over the first 3 years.

The study will focus on the strength, nature, ancillary dynamics and limitations of the impact of the use of Bugmy Bar Book Project resources in sentencing determinations. An evaluation of the use-to-date of Bugmy Bar Book Project Resources in sentencing will yield approximately 25-50 sentencing court determinations, collected and collated for the project. Interviews and focus groups will be undertaken with stakeholders involved in the use of Bugmy Bar Book, resulting in recommendations about how best the Bugmy Bar Book can be used.

A recent article published in the Law Society Journal by the Legal and Project Managers of the Bugmy Bar Book is also available here.