Bail and Accommodation Support Service
The Bail and Accommodation (BASS) is an after-hours number for NSW Police. The BASS provides police with information that helps young people gain access to bail if they are likely to be held in custody.
Assistance for young people in police custody
Youth Justice's team in the Bail and Accommodation Support Service (BASS) provides an after-hours intake service for NSW Police. This service was previously known as the Bail Assistance Line. BASS provides police with information that helps young people gain access to bail if they are likely to be held in custody. Young people can be connected with accommodation, transport, case support and other services to help them satisfy the conditions of a bail order.
BASS also has two service coordinators during business hours who complement the work of the after-hours team. They assist Youth Justice staff in securing accommodation for young people in the community.
How does bail support work?
This service is provided for NSW Police who are considering granting conditional bail to a young person who is in their custody but who cannot be released as they cannot meet their bail conditions.
The service is available from 4pm to 3am, 365 days a year.
The BASS helps:
- police locate a parent or guardian of a young person
- police locate and transport a young person from the police station to accommodation
- young people meet the conditions of their bail
- young people await their court date within the community, rather than in a Youth Justice Centre.
Bail is an agreement a young person makes with the police or court so that they can stay out of custody while the offence goes through court. It is an agreement to appear in court on a set day.
A young person has the right to apply for bail when charged with an offence.
Bail applies only if the young person has been charged -it does not apply if the young person has been issued with a court attendance notice (CAN).
How does BASS provide bail support?
Police can contact the BASS to speak to a bail coordinator who will talk with the young person and assess their needs and current circumstances
The bail coordinator can provide a range of services such as accessing relevant information from the Youth Justice database, arranging transport, and coordinating a safe place for the young person to stay until their court date
The BASS has funding agreements with several non-government organisations to provide a range of services for young people such as case management, accommodation, transport or referrals to drug and alcohol, mental health and vocational services.
What are the objectives of bail support?
The BASS provides police with accurate advice to help the young person on remand while considering the needs of the community. By providing bail assistance, the BASS aims to:
minimise the entrenchment of young people in the justice system
reduce the number of young people in custody who can be safely supervised in the community to await their court date
reduce the number of young people in custody who are only detained due to non-criminal issues such as lack of appropriate accommodation or absence of a parent, guardian, or carer
provide accommodation, transport, case support and other support services that a young person may need
provide services that are appropriate and sensitive to a young person's age, gender, cultural background and disability
retain young people in the community and minimise disruption to relationships, employment or education.