Crimes Act (with its variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, relating to the criminal law (including both substantive and procedural aspects of that law). It tends to be used for Acts which consolidate or codify the whole of the criminal law.
The Bill for an Act with this short title may have been known as a Crimes Bill during its passage through Parliament.
The Crimes Acts may be a generic name either for legislation bearing that short title or for all legislation which relates to the criminal law. It is a term of art in Victoria.
The Crimes Acts consisted of the principal Act, and the Acts amending that Act, and Acts which stated that they were one of the Crimes Acts. These Acts could be cited together as "the Crimes Acts". The first principal Act was the Crimes Act 1890, followed by the Crimes Act 1915, then the Crimes Act 1928, which was followed by Crimes Act 1957.
From 1891 to 1915, The Crimes Acts was the collective title of the Crimes Act 1890, and the Acts amending the same, and the Crimes Act 1891, [4] the Crimes Act 1900 [5] and the Crimes Act 1914. [6]
From 1915 to 1928, The Crimes Acts was the collective title of the Crimes Act 1915, and the Acts amending the same, and the Crimes Act 1915 (No. 2) and the Crimes (Acts of Indecency) Act 1919. [7]
From 1946 to 1957, The Crimes Acts was the collective title of the Crimes Act 1928, and the Acts amending the same, and the Crimes (Indeterminate Sentences) Act 1946, [8] the Crimes Act 1949, [9] the Crimes (Reformatory Prisons) Act 1951 [10] the Crimes Act 1954, [11] and the Crimes (Amendment) Act 1955 [12]
From 1957 to 1958, The Crimes Acts was the collective title of the Crimes Act 1957, the Crimes (Amendment) Act 1957 [13] and the Crimes (Parole Board) Act 1957. [14]