Townsville · Criminal Law
One steady voice in your corner
A criminal charge is frightening, and the decisions you make in the first 48 hours matter enormously. We give you clear-headed advice from the outset — what to say, what not to, and how to protect your record, your licence and your future. Whatever the charge, you get a defence built on strategy, not panic.
Where we can help
We act on a wide range of criminal law matters. If yours isn’t listed, ask us — chances are we can still help or point you the right way.
The essentials
In Queensland you generally have the right to silence — beyond your name, address and (for traffic matters) your licence, you don’t have to answer police questions or take part in a record-of-interview. Be polite, don’t resist, and don’t try to talk your way out of it. Say you want to speak to a criminal lawyer first, then call us. What you say in those first hours can decide the whole case.
Less serious (“summary”) charges and the early stages of serious matters are heard in the Townsville Magistrates Court; “indictable” charges move to the Townsville District Court, and the most serious to the Supreme Court. A matter typically runs from charge and bail, to a first mention where we obtain the police brief, to negotiation with the prosecution, then a plea or a trial where the case must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. We appear in these courts constantly and know the local prosecutors and processes.
Often, no. For many offences a Queensland court has a discretion not to record a conviction — weighing the seriousness of the offence, your criminal history, your age and character, and the impact on your job and future. Where a non-conviction is realistically available we argue hard for it, because keeping your record clean can matter as much as the penalty.
If you’re held in custody we prepare and run your bail application so you can fight the charge from home. Penalties range from good-behaviour bonds and fines to probation and imprisonment for the most serious matters — and strong preparation genuinely changes outcomes. Your first consultation is free, and for many pleas and hearings we can quote a fixed fee up front.
How it works
Call us before speaking further with police. Early advice can change the entire trajectory of a matter.
We assess the evidence, identify weaknesses in the prosecution case, and set the right course — defend, negotiate or plead.
Whether that’s an acquittal, a withdrawn charge, or the lightest possible penalty, we advocate hard on your behalf.
It starts with a free, no-pressure conversation.
Good to know
A clean record can matter as much as the penalty — so where a court can decline to record a conviction, we push hard for it.
What you say in the first hours can decide the whole case. Beyond your name and address, you generally have the right to silence — use it, and call us.
Arrests and bail don’t keep business hours. For urgent matters we make ourselves reachable.
Local criminal law
We appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court and the Townsville District Court on Walker Street week in, week out, and we know the local police prosecutors, the watch-house and how bail is really run here. Charged anywhere from the CBD to Aitkenvale, Kirwan, Kelso or Magnetic Island? You get a Townsville criminal lawyer you can reach from the very first phone call — calm, strategic and close to the local courts.
Criminal Law FAQs
Can’t see yours? Ask us directly — the first conversation is free.
Beyond providing your name and address (and, for traffic matters, your licence), you generally have the right to silence. What you say can be used against you. In most cases the safest step is to say you wish to speak to a lawyer first, then call us before answering questions.
Not necessarily. For some offences a court can deal with the matter without recording a conviction, depending on the offence, your history and the circumstances. We argue for that outcome wherever it is realistically available.
Yes. We prepare and run bail applications, including addressing the concerns a court will have about your release. Strong preparation — proposed conditions, sureties and a release plan — makes a real difference.
Your first consultation with us is free. After that, cost depends on the charge and how the matter runs, but for many pleas and straightforward hearings we can quote a fixed fee up front so there are no surprises. We’ll always be clear about fees before you commit.
Yes — arguably more than ever. A well-prepared guilty plea, with the right references and material put to the court, can significantly reduce your penalty and, in some cases, avoid a conviction being recorded. Pleading guilty without advice can cost you outcomes you were entitled to.
Get advice before you do anything else, and do not contact the protected person if a police protection notice, order or bail condition says not to — breaching it is a separate offence. These matters move quickly and carry serious consequences; we can advise you on the charge, any protection order, and your options from the first call.
It can — some jobs, a blue card, licences and visas are affected by charges or convictions. That’s exactly why avoiding a recorded conviction, where possible, matters so much. Tell us what’s at stake and we’ll factor it into how we run your matter.
Your first consultation is free, confidential and without obligation — a clear read on where you stand and what to do next.
Set your bearing
A free, confidential first conversation with a Townsville lawyer. No pressure, no jargon — just a clear read on your options and the way forward.
