Set the optional As at date above the search in the GOAT Tool and every result shows the offence as Acquit recorded it at that date.
- Open the offence lookup from the Tools page, or click Quick lookup for the drawer.
- Set the As at date in the field above the search.
- Search and open the result as normal.
Leave the date empty and the lookup only shows current law.
Why the offence date matters
The penalty that applies is the one in force at the offence date (Criminal Code s11(2)). For a matter whose offence date pre-dates an amendment or a repeal, the current maximum can be the wrong one.
How earlier law is marked
An answer that changed after your chosen date carries a clearly marked Historical note saying when it changed and under which amendment. An offence that has since been repealed comes back into the results with the same marking.
The same check on your client charges
A matched charge whose offence record has since changed shows a note in its drawer. Where the charge’s offence date is before the change, the note flags that the earlier maximum may be the operative one.
Note: the “as at” view reflects when Acquit’s record changed, so for matters close to the changeover check the amendment’s own commencement date in the citation on the historical note.