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The Bugmy Bar Book is a free, evidence-based resource for lawyers and legal decision-makers, as well as policy-makers and other professionals. The chapters below are accessible summaries of key research about the impacts of experiences of trauma, socioeconomic inequality, structural disadvantage and strengths-based rehabilitation.

Chapters may provide an evidence base to support legal advocacy and decision-making, and are intended to promote improved understanding of the experiences of people who are brought into contact with the legal system.

While a key function of this project is to assist legal practitioners in the preparation and presentation of material in sentencing proceedings to establish the application of the principles in Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571, these publications may also have relevance in other criminal law contexts, such as bail and mental health diversionary applications, as well as in various civil law practice areas, proceedings before tribunals, coronial inquests and other inquisitorial jurisdictions.

Index of Chapters

Latest News

  • Chapter Update

    Social Exclusion

    The Bugmy Bar Book is pleased to share an update to the Social Exclusion chapter, a practical, evidence-informed resource to support better decision-making in matters involving people who have experienced social exclusion.

  • New Chapter

    Impacts of Custody and Detention on Young People

    The Bugmy Bar Book is pleased to share a new chapter of the Bugmy Bar Book titled Impacts of Custody and Detention on Young People, a practical, evidence‑informed resource to support better decision‑making in youth justice matters.

Published Judgments Citing the Bugmy Bar Book

Bugmy Bar Book has been cited in numerous published judgments and decisions of courts and tribunals in NSW, ACT, Victoria and Queensland.

The Project Committee maintains a summary of published judgments and decisions citing the Bugmy Bar Book.

BUGMY BAR BOOK JUDGMENTS
JUDGMENTS LIBRARY

Project Contributors

The Bugmy Bar Book Project Committee is comprised of representatives of key justice agencies (including the NSW Public Defenders, NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NT), Legal Aid NSW, National Legal Aid and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, the judiciary (including nominees from the Federal Court and Supreme Court of NSW, ACT, NT Supreme Court, District Court of NSW, Local Court of NSW, NT and ACT and the NSW Judicial Commission), senior legal 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.

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