If you are trying to make sense of the NSW Regional Offsite DDT list, you are looking at one of the most important behind-the-scenes mechanisms in the New South Wales justice system. The Regional Offsite DDT is a dedicated daily video-link list that manages in-custody defendants who are held in regional correctional centres and appear before a court remotely, rather than being physically transported to a courtroom. Because these matters are grouped into a single coordinated list, legal practitioners, family members, corrective services staff and support workers can locate a defendant's remote appearance quickly instead of searching multiple individual court lists. This page explains what the Regional Offsite DDT covers, how audio visual link (AVL) appearances work in NSW, and how to read the daily schedule with confidence.
What Does NSW Regional Offsite DDT Mean?
DDT refers to a defined video-link or audio visual link listing category used within the NSW court framework to organise appearances by people who are in custody. The word "regional" indicates that the person in custody is located at a correctional centre outside the major metropolitan network, while "offsite" confirms that the defendant is appearing from a location that is physically separate from the courtroom hearing the matter. In practice, an inmate held at a regional gaol connects to the court through a secure two-way video feed, allowing them to see, hear and take part in proceedings without leaving the correctional facility.
This arrangement exists because New South Wales operates one of the largest court video-conferencing networks in the country. According to the District Court of New South Wales, the AVL network consists of around 250 video-conferencing sites spread across courtrooms, correctional centres, youth detention centres, Legal Aid offices, police stations and prosecution offices. The Regional Offsite DDT list is the scheduling layer that sits on top of this network, matching remote custody appearances to the correct courtroom, magistrate and time slot each sitting day.
Why Regional Offsite Video Links Exist
The primary purpose of an offsite AVL list is to allow defendants in custody to participate in court without the cost, delay and security risk of physical transport. As the NSW Local Court Practice Note for criminal proceedings explains, where a court does not have its own AVL facilities, the magistrate adjourns the matter and moves it to the nearest or most appropriate courthouse that is equipped for video links. Courts that are equipped with AVL facilities then coordinate all custody matters from surrounding courts, including bail hearings, brief orders, further brief orders and the listing of matters for hearing or sentence.
The scale of this system is significant. Research reported by NSW Courts found that more than 60 per cent of court appearances in NSW now occur via video link, equating to over 50,000 individual appearances, and that the use of AVL has increased by roughly 400 per cent over the past decade. For regional communities, where the distance between a correctional centre and a courthouse can span hundreds of kilometres, the offsite DDT list is often the difference between a same-day appearance and a lengthy adjournment.
How the Regional Offsite DDT List Works
On any given sitting day, the offsite DDT list is compiled to reflect which in-custody defendants are scheduled to appear by video from regional facilities. Each entry typically identifies the matter and the courtroom it is connected to, so that everyone involved knows exactly where and when the remote appearance will take place. The list functions as a coordination tool between the court, Corrective Services NSW and legal representatives.
Corrective Services procedures require careful preparation before any remote appearance. Under the relevant Corrective Services NSW policy, staff facilitating a video conference must confirm that the names of inmates scheduled to attend the studio correspond with the legal order and any relevant alerts, and inmates scheduled to attend are generally required to be present at the video-conferencing area at least one hour before the scheduled time. The video-conferencing studio is treated as part of the proceedings of the court, which means the same standards of conduct apply as if the person were physically in the courtroom.
Types of Matters Heard on an Offsite DDT List
The offsite DDT list handles a broad range of custody-related matters. The most common categories include:
- Bail hearings: where a defendant refused police bail applies to the court for release pending finalisation of their matter.
- Mentions and adjournments: short procedural appearances where the matter is scheduled for a future date.
- Brief orders and further brief orders: directions relating to the service of the prosecution brief of evidence.
- Sentence and hearing listings: administrative steps that set a matter down for a substantive hearing or sentencing at the original court.
- Remand appearances: regular appearances by defendants held on remand while awaiting the outcome of their case.
Remand matters make up a growing share of custody appearances. BOCSAR data shows that in March 2026 the NSW remand population reached a record 6,650, and the adult prison population reached 14,070, the highest number on record. A larger remand population means more defendants require regular remote appearances, which places the offsite DDT list at the centre of daily court operations.
The Legal and Financial Case for AVL Appearances
Video-link appearances are not simply a matter of convenience. The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research examined the introduction of new AVL facilities and found that they produced an estimated $459,501 in avoided prison transport costs, with the installation of separate AVL facilities in courts that previously shared them delivering a further $230,790 in additional avoided transport costs. These savings arise because defendants no longer need to be driven long distances between a correctional centre and a courthouse for every appearance.
The efficiency benefits are matched by safety benefits. Because defendants remain within the secure environment of the correctional centre, the risk of escape or incident during transport is greatly reduced. This is one reason NSW Justice has continued to invest in the network through its Justice Audio Visual Link Consolidation Project, which upgraded and expanded AVL capacity across courts and correctional facilities.
Balancing Efficiency With Fairness
Research from the University of Sydney Law School has noted that while inmates overwhelmingly prefer not to travel to and from court for every appearance, some expressed concern about being reduced to "a face on a screen" and about the limited contact they have with their lawyer before and after a remote appearance. The offsite DDT list therefore reflects an ongoing balance between the practical advantages of remote appearances and the need to protect the fairness of proceedings for people in custody.
How to Read and Use the Regional Offsite DDT List
Reading the list is straightforward once you know what to look for. Because these are custody matters coordinated across regional facilities, the person you are searching for may be physically located a long way from the courtroom their matter is attached to. If you are supporting a defendant or acting as their representative, the offsite DDT list allows you to confirm the appearance without contacting multiple registries. For a broader view of custody scheduling across the state, the Sydney DDT court list covers metropolitan video-link appearances, while the interstate DDT list manages defendants appearing from correctional centres in other states.
If you are unsure which list applies to your matter, start with your court attendance notice or bail paperwork, which identifies the listed date and the court hearing the matter. From there you can cross-check the relevant daily list. For matters involving a bail application, the dedicated bail division court list shows how bail appearances are grouped, and metropolitan matters can also be traced through the Downing Centre court list.
Who Relies on the Offsite DDT List
- Solicitors and barristers preparing for a client's remote appearance and confirming the courtroom connection.
- Family members and support persons wanting to know when and where a loved one will appear.
- Corrective Services staff scheduling inmates into video-conferencing studios at the correct time.
- Duty lawyers and Legal Aid representatives managing multiple custody matters across a single sitting day.
NSW Court and Custody Statistics at a Glance
The volume of matters moving through the NSW court system underlines why coordinated video-link lists matter. BOCSAR reported that NSW criminal courts finalised 156,256 court appearances in 2025, up 8.3 per cent from 2024, with the Local Court accounting for the overwhelming majority of finalisations. Domestic violence-related matters continued to grow and accounted for more than one in four Local Court finalisations, and many of these defendants are held in custody while their matters progress.
Custody figures reinforce the trend. BOCSAR data records that the number and proportion of defendants refused bail at the time of finalisation has risen over recent years, and that the remand population has grown sharply. With more defendants held in custody for longer, the demand for reliable remote appearances through lists such as the Regional Offsite DDT continues to increase across metropolitan, regional and rural New South Wales.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Regional Offsite DDT and a standard court list?
A standard court list shows all matters listed at a particular courthouse, including in-person appearances. The Regional Offsite DDT is a specialised list that groups together in-custody defendants appearing by video link from regional correctional centres, so their remote appearances can be coordinated separately from physical hearings.
Can the public watch an offsite DDT appearance?
Most criminal proceedings are open to the public, and the AVL studio is treated as part of the court's proceedings. However, some matters, such as those involving young people or certain protected witnesses, may be closed. If you wish to attend, contact the relevant court registry to confirm access before the listing date.
Why is a defendant appearing by video instead of in person?
Under NSW practice, defendants in custody are generally expected to appear by AVL for procedural matters such as mentions and bail hearings. This avoids unnecessary transport, reduces cost and improves security, while still allowing the defendant to see, hear and participate in the proceedings.
How do I confirm the exact time of a remote appearance?
Times on custody lists can shift depending on courtroom availability and the order in which matters are called. The safest approach is to check the current daily list on the sitting day and, where necessary, confirm with the defendant's legal representative or the court registry.
Does appearing by AVL affect the outcome of a case?
The mode of appearance does not change the legal test the court applies. A magistrate or judge assesses the matter on its merits regardless of whether the defendant is present in person or by video link, although a defendant can apply to appear physically in certain circumstances.
The NSW Regional Offsite DDT list plays a quiet but essential role in keeping the justice system moving efficiently across a large and geographically dispersed state. By consolidating remote custody appearances into a single coordinated schedule, it helps legal professionals, families and support services locate the right matter at the right time, while supporting the broader shift toward secure, cost-effective and accessible court proceedings throughout New South Wales.