To be considered for appointment as a justice of the peace (JP), you must be of good character.
Convictions
All convictions, including spent convictions, may be included in the National Police Check and must be disclosed by applicants. You will have an opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding any charges or convictions.
If you do not disclose the charges or convictions, you will be provided an opportunity to explain.
If your application discloses a criminal offence, you will be assessed on:
- the nature and number of offences, and if any penalty was imposed
- whether the charges resulted in conviction or dismissal, or are still pending
- the dates of the offences and the length of the crime-free period since the latest offence
- whether or not you were a juvenile at the time of an offence
- the general application, including:
- the employment or community need for the appointment
- strength of references
- any other information provided in the application or available to the Attorney-General's Department.
Other considerations
A range of factors will be considered when assessing your good character, including your honesty and integrity, capacity to act impartially and in a way that respects the appointment and Office of the JP.
Each applicant will be assessed on their good character. This may include having been:
- found to have acted dishonestly by any court, tribunal, inquiry, regulatory agency or complaint handling, or dispute resolution body
- disqualified from managing or being involved in the management of any company under the Corporations Act 2001
- bankrupt or applied as a debtor to take the benefit of the laws relating to bankruptcy.
If any of the above factors apply to you, you must disclose them in your application.
