Criminal matters - psychiatrists and psychologists fees
Fees payable to Psychiatrists and Psychologists Criminal Law matters – State and Commonwealth Commencement date - 1 December 2007
Note: The fee scales will apply to all approvals made on or after 1 December 2007, and will be subject to existing delegations for the approval of grants for medico-legal assessments in criminal law matters.
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Fees Payable from 1 December 2007 exclusive of 10 % GST |
Psychologists
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Psychiatrists
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| Local Court Matters | ||
| Assessment and report (including use of Audio Visual Link ) | $585 | $650 |
| Assessment and report including metropolitan gaol visit | $585 | $650 |
| Assessment and report including country gaol visit | $800 + travel costs | $900 + travel costs |
| District/Supreme Court Matters | ||
| Sentence Matters and General Reports | ||
| Assessment and report (including use of AVL) | $675 | $750 |
| Assessment and report including metropolitan gaol visit | $675 | $750 |
| Assessment and report including country gaol visit | $900 + travel costs | $1000 + travel costs |
| Complex Evidentiary Reports (see note below) | ||
| Assessment and report (including use of AVL) | N/A | $1000 |
| Assessment and report including metropolitan gaol visit | N/A | $1000 |
| Assessment and report including country gaol visit | N/A | $1250 + travel costs |
|
Fees Payable from 1 December 2007 exclusive of 10 % GST |
Psychologists
|
Psychiatrists
|
| Treating expert’s report (for all courts) | $300 | $300 |
| Supplementary report (for all courts) | $400 | $400 |
| Court Attendance for each hour of evidence (for all courts) | $250 | $250 |
Note: The fee for Complex Evidentiary Report shall apply where in the course of a proceeding a report from a psychiatrist is sought to establish an evidentiary basis for a defence (e.g. mental impairment, absence of intent) or an evidentiary issue (e.g. fitness to plead, review or leave application).
Before such a fee is incurred there must be explicit factual material confirming a reasonable expectation of an organic psychiatric condition.
In exceptional matters Legal Aid NSW may need to negotiate an increase in the fee rates. These matters usually would be for clients who are charged with a very serious charge, the case is high profile and there is a large volume of material to be read and the report usually requires more than one gaol visit.
DELEGATIONS for in-house matters
The policy of Legal Aid NSW is that psychologists and psychiatrists can only be engaged for sentence matters in exceptional circumstances. The Director, Criminal Law has authorised certain in-house solicitors to approve such matters, as set out in the Policy Online Practice Directions.
TRAVEL EXPENSES
Where approved, travel expenses will be paid at a rate of $0.60 per kilometre , or where appropriate , return economy airfares (whichever is the cheaper). The website http://www.travelmate.com.au may assist in calculating distances .
Where approved, accommodation expenses (including sustenance) will be paid as incurred ; the maximum rates will be as determined by the Public Employment Office of the NSW Government.