The last outlaw: Making a nation from the crimes of Jimmy Governor. This project aims to produce a legal history of the murderer Jimmy Governor to discover the extent to which law-making was generated by acts of law-breaking. The Australian Federation laid the foundations for the nation’s legal institutions under the rule of law. The Aboriginal serial killer, Jimmy Governor, was outlawed and convicted on the threshold of Federation, in 1900. Through Governor’s legal history, the project will pro ....The last outlaw: Making a nation from the crimes of Jimmy Governor. This project aims to produce a legal history of the murderer Jimmy Governor to discover the extent to which law-making was generated by acts of law-breaking. The Australian Federation laid the foundations for the nation’s legal institutions under the rule of law. The Aboriginal serial killer, Jimmy Governor, was outlawed and convicted on the threshold of Federation, in 1900. Through Governor’s legal history, the project will produce an account of the law and its outsiders at an important historical moment. This project expects to provide knowledge about punishment, surveillance and imprisonment in the emerging nation, and a history of the rules of evidence and criminal procedure.Read moreRead less
Justice Reinvestment in Australia: conceptual foundations for criminal justice innovation. This project will examine the characteristics of Justice Reinvestment programs used in other countries which reduce spending on prisons and reinvest the savings in high crime communities to reduce crime and build community services. This study will analyse whether such programs can be developed in the Australian context.
Hate crime laws and justice. This project will investigate how the criminal law and justice system can provide an effective but even-handed response to the problem of prejudice-related crime. It will make recommendations to assist in the formulation of law in this area and advance scholarship on crime and punishment.
Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public ....Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public holds these views; and what influence these views have on policy and practice. The project is expected to make contributions to: creating information strategies that properly inform the public; supporting prisoner reintegration strategies; and shaping criminal justice policies based on informed community feedback.Read moreRead less
Law, order and federalism in Australia. In a series of recent cases the High Court has emphasised the constitutional imperatives of judicial independence and impartiality in State court systems. These developments provide minimum human rights protections to individuals confronting criminal justice in the States. But what has not been considered is the cost of these developments. This project will investigate the uncertainty of the constitutional restrictions confronting State governments when re ....Law, order and federalism in Australia. In a series of recent cases the High Court has emphasised the constitutional imperatives of judicial independence and impartiality in State court systems. These developments provide minimum human rights protections to individuals confronting criminal justice in the States. But what has not been considered is the cost of these developments. This project will investigate the uncertainty of the constitutional restrictions confronting State governments when responding to law and order priorities, and the extent to which these have led to the frustration of policy development and experimentation across the Australian federation.Read moreRead less
Where are Indigenous women in the sentencing of Indigenous offenders? The project aims to explore the experience of Indigenous women in Australian courts. Legal sentencing principles for Indigenous defendants have been formulated almost exclusively with Indigenous men in mind. Insufficient research has been undertaken on whether these principles are applicable for Indigenous women. This project undertakes a qualitative analysis of local court sentencing remarks, case files and interviews with In ....Where are Indigenous women in the sentencing of Indigenous offenders? The project aims to explore the experience of Indigenous women in Australian courts. Legal sentencing principles for Indigenous defendants have been formulated almost exclusively with Indigenous men in mind. Insufficient research has been undertaken on whether these principles are applicable for Indigenous women. This project undertakes a qualitative analysis of local court sentencing remarks, case files and interviews with Indigenous women prisoners, court actors and pre-sentence reporters. It seeks to ascertain how local courts represent Indigenous women's experiences such as family violence and family responsibilities and the quality of information before sentencing courts. The project's aim is to ensure appropriate engagement with Indigenous women in courts and sentencing outcomes for Indigenous women offenders.Read moreRead less
Understanding and preventing youth sexual violence and abuse: an investigation of offender development, offending onset, and progression. Youth sexual violence and abuse poses serious threats to the health and well-being of Australian women and children. This project will investigate the development, onset and progression of youth sexual violence and abuse, and thereby contribute to its management and prevention.
Sexual victimisation and justice: reconceptualising theory, research and policy. In the aftermath of serious crime, victims have needs for information, support, material assistance and justice. This project centres on victims' justice needs and presents and tests a model to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of justice responses, including courts, conferences, compensation and truth - seeking.
Open justice and open secrets: the cultural afterlife of criminal evidence. This project explores the consequences of using criminal evidence in the cultural field, after the conclusion of the trial. It investigates whether an appropriate regulatory or ethical framework can be developed in response to challenging or controversial re-deployments of this material by artists, curators, journalists, scholars and others.
Mode, accuracy and credibility in court interpreting. This project aims to examine factors affecting the accuracy of interpreting and the effect of interpreters on witness credibility. Judicial cases rely on oral evidence. Witness credibility is assessed based on the content of the testimony and the speaker’s demeanour. When witnesses do not speak English, their credibility is evaluated through an interpreter. Inaccurate interpretations can result in miscarriages of justice, making accuracy of i ....Mode, accuracy and credibility in court interpreting. This project aims to examine factors affecting the accuracy of interpreting and the effect of interpreters on witness credibility. Judicial cases rely on oral evidence. Witness credibility is assessed based on the content of the testimony and the speaker’s demeanour. When witnesses do not speak English, their credibility is evaluated through an interpreter. Inaccurate interpretations can result in miscarriages of justice, making accuracy of interpretation essential. This project aims to provide empirical evidence to support best practice and a basis for policy recommendations to courts to enhance the fairness of the justice system for all members of the community, regardless of language and background.Read moreRead less