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Public Record Office Victoria holds thousands of record series which relate to criminal convictions and court trials in Victoria.  We do not have guides for all the records available. We have listed the most popular record series below and how to locate court documents up until 1939.

Criminal trial briefs are the set of documents that make up the Crown Prosecutor’s case against an individual committed for trial in either the County or Supreme Court. The Inquest Deposition file forms part of this documentation, in most instances, where the charges relate to murder or manslaughter.

 

What do I need to know before I start?

In most cases you will need to know the name of the prisoner or accused, sometimes the case file number, the name of the court and the year they were tried. How to find the case number is explained within the topic pages.

 

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Criminal, civil and other cases heard in Victorian courts
Criminal cases heard in Victorian courts
(1841-1943) Record Series Number (VPRS): 30
Records of coronial investigations
Record Series Number (VPRS): 937
Record Series Number (VPRS): 515, 516