NRS-16953 | Charge books [Balranald Police Station]

Full description

Since 1862 there has been an obligation to create Charge books. 'The Sergeant, senior Constable, or Constable on duty at the watchhouse received all charges against prisoners brought in by different Constables, ascertained their nature and if satisfied it was a proper charge was to: enter name of each prisoner and the particulars of the offence in a book he shall keep for the purpose, to be called a 'Charge Book'.' Prisoners property was also to be entered into the charge book. (Police Rules - New South Wales Government Gazette 1 March 1862 p.498).

This series consists of Charge books from the Balranald Police Station. The series contains information and details of those persons charged with offences at the aforementioned station.

The inside cover of each volume has a list of instructions that each Station Sergeant is required to follow in connection with entering charges in the Charge Book. These include; descriptions of persons charged with drunkenness; completion of fingerprint information forms; the initials of arresting police as to the property found on the prisoner; the signature of the Constable searching the prisoner; instructions as to how entries are to be set out; special particulars required when juveniles are arrested; the duties of the Station Sergeant when a charge is refused; the classification of prisoners when placed in the cells, if accommodation permits; procedures to be followed when persons have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol; cases in which conviction reports are prescribed; and procedures to follow on the arrest of foreign nationals.

The details recorded pertaining to the charge itself includes; the charge number; the date and hour of both the apprehension and the recording of the charge in the Charge Book; personal details of the person being charged including name, address, date of birth, height, calling/occupation, education (until 1940s), nationality and religion (rarely recorded in later years); a short summary of the nature of the offence; the full name of the informant; any property found on the prisoner and the prisoners property book reference number; signatures of the lock-up keeper / station sergeant and the searching constable; name of apprehending officer; if the prisoner was bailed (date and hour, by whose order, amount of cash or surety, and bail form receipt number); if not bailed, the date and time of discharge from cells; how the case was disposed of including date and name of magistrate; number of meals supplied; and any remarks.