Support for controversial bail reform
NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith says the State Government will support controversial bail reforms proposed by a team of high profile judges earlier this month.
One of the key recommendations in the report released by the NSW Law Reform Commission was for the presumption against bail to be abolished.
The report suggested too many accused criminals were spending unnecessary time behind bars in between court dates.
President of the NSW Law Society Justin Dowd said bail reform was necessary to restore balance in the system, reintroduce the presumption of innocence and address the high rate of juvenile detention in NSW.
On Wednesday night Mr Smith said while the State Government was committed to staying tough on crime, he favoured a "risk management" approach.
Under that approach only defendants who posed an unacceptable risk of committing a serious offence, endangering the public or interfering with witnesses would be remanded in custody before being dealt with in court.
Mr Smith's official response is expected to be tabled in NSW Parliament some time in August
