VPRS 4784 Court of Petty Sessions Register (1888-1891); Children's Court Registers (1907-1950)

This series is essentially one of Children's Court registers, however the first volume was initially used as a Court of Petty Session Register for the period 13 September 1888 - 3 December 1912. This is highly unusal as Clerks of Courts were instructed to record Court of Petty Sessions cases and Children's Court cases in separate registers. COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS REGISTERS Courts of Petty Sessions, known since 1971 as Magistrates' Courts, have dealt with a very large range of "minor" court matters. The types of cases heard, which have changed and increased over time, fall within four broad jurisdictions: criminal, civil, licensing and family law. Apart from a large number of tribunals, Courts of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Courts provide the lowest level of redress in civil and criminal matters. The County Court, the Supreme Court and various Commonwealth courts have heard and determined more serious criminal cases and larger civil disputes. The licensing jurisdiction since 1886 has comprised non-liquor licensing matters only. Successive Justices' Acts, and more recently Magistrates' Court Acts, have required the clerk or registrar of each Court to make and keep a register of all convictions, orders and other proceedings of the Court. This register is the authoritative record of the Court. Court Registers are generally in a common format, giving details of the case number, the name of the prosecutor or informant (in a criminal matter), complainant (in a civil matter), or applicant (in a licensing matter), the name of the accused or defendant, how the case came to the court (arrest, warrant, summons etc), the fees or court costs accrued, a description of the charge, cause or proceeding, the decision or order and any remarks. The column for remarks was often used to record the payment of fines and fees. In order to authenticate entries made in the register the presiding officer(s) of the court signed the register at the end of each day. The remaining Court of Petty Sessions Registers for this court are held in VPRS 4781. CHILDREN'S COURT REGISTERS Children's Courts were established in Victoria by the Children's Courts Act 1906. This Act came into operation on 1 December 1906. Children's Courts could sit at any place where a Court of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Court sat. The 1906 Act and subsequent legislation required clerks of Children's Courts to keep a register of all cases and decisions of the court. The Acts also set out the form that the register should take. The Children's Court Register records the case number, the name of the informant or applicant, the name of the accused or defendant, his or her age or apparent age, how the defendant was brought to court (arrest warrant or summons), the court fees due, the nature of the information, charge or application, the court's decision and order and any remarks. The payment of fines or fees is often recorded in the remarks column.