Policing Hazardous Waste Disposal. In a specific sense, the research will advance understanding of the nature of environmental law enforcement in the particular area of hazardous waste (that in itself has major implications for the health and wellbeing of humans, ecological systems and nonhuman animals within Australia). More generally, interrogating environmental law enforcement in this manner will provide insight into models of intervention applicable to the further development of climate chan ....Policing Hazardous Waste Disposal. In a specific sense, the research will advance understanding of the nature of environmental law enforcement in the particular area of hazardous waste (that in itself has major implications for the health and wellbeing of humans, ecological systems and nonhuman animals within Australia). More generally, interrogating environmental law enforcement in this manner will provide insight into models of intervention applicable to the further development of climate change strategies, as well as building enforcement capacity and collaborative work practices that are relevant to combating other types of criminal activity (e.g., terrorism, transnational organised crime). Read moreRead less
Nothing works? Re-appraising research on Indigenous-focused crime and justice programs. Research on Indigenous-focused crime and justice programs often finds little or no impact on outcomes such as reductions in re-offending. This project aims to determine whether such findings are an accurate reflection of program ineffectiveness or are a consequence of how the research was carried out. With an analysis of three case studies of crime and justice programs, this project aims to show why findings ....Nothing works? Re-appraising research on Indigenous-focused crime and justice programs. Research on Indigenous-focused crime and justice programs often finds little or no impact on outcomes such as reductions in re-offending. This project aims to determine whether such findings are an accurate reflection of program ineffectiveness or are a consequence of how the research was carried out. With an analysis of three case studies of crime and justice programs, this project aims to show why findings that show no difference in re-offending outcomes may occur, and offer a more Indigenous-centric methodology to assess program effectiveness. Comparisons will be made with indigenous methodologies used in New Zealand and Canada.Read moreRead less
Exporting risk: the Australian deportation project. This study will investigate the use of deportation. It will test our claim that deportation has a significant impact on institutions, individuals and communities, and will contribute to a more ethically and legally robust approach to deportation.
Managing family objection to autopsy: a case study of the Queensland coronial system. Exploring how coroners, police, counsellors, and pathologists engage with families after the shock of a sudden or violent death, and the resulting development of an e-resource, enables a consistent and transparent whole system approach to be established. The expected benefits for the Coronial system will include: a decrease in unnecessary autopsies, a flow on to minimising staffing shortages, and an overall de ....Managing family objection to autopsy: a case study of the Queensland coronial system. Exploring how coroners, police, counsellors, and pathologists engage with families after the shock of a sudden or violent death, and the resulting development of an e-resource, enables a consistent and transparent whole system approach to be established. The expected benefits for the Coronial system will include: a decrease in unnecessary autopsies, a flow on to minimising staffing shortages, and an overall decrease in the cost of a death investigation. The benefits to the community will include: enhanced police relations with families, including those from minority religions and cultures, more informed and appropriate decision making by coroners, less invasive autopsies by pathologists, and more focused intervention by counsellors.Read moreRead less
Violence and disengagement from violence in young men's lives . This project will study the significance of victimisation, perpetration and the watching of violence and images of violence, among young Australian men. It will explore the underlying links with masculine identity and have practical applications for developing an understanding of the unknown aspects of disengagement from involvements in violence.
An international perspective on redress for institutional abuse. This project aims to produce a comparative analysis of redress for institutional abuse, understand survivors' aspirations for justice, and map theoretical developments in the field. Institutional abuse of children is a social and legal problem in many nations. The major responses to this problem are public inquiries, criminal prosecution, civil litigation and redress schemes. The project intends to gather data on 35 redress schemes ....An international perspective on redress for institutional abuse. This project aims to produce a comparative analysis of redress for institutional abuse, understand survivors' aspirations for justice, and map theoretical developments in the field. Institutional abuse of children is a social and legal problem in many nations. The major responses to this problem are public inquiries, criminal prosecution, civil litigation and redress schemes. The project intends to gather data on 35 redress schemes in 13 jurisdictions, building on previous research on redress in Australia and Canada. The intended outcome is an authoritative and comprehensive research platform for developing redress policies and practices that can inform and guide Australian society in a compassionate and cohesive direction.Read moreRead less
Improving the Outcomes of Anger Management Programs for Violent Offenders: The Role of Perspective-Taking Deficits in Violent Crime. Criminal justice systems have increasingly identified violent offenders as a key target group for rehabilitation programs. Anger management or violence programs have been widely implemented in Australia. However, recent research evaluating program outcomes suggests that the overall impact of these programs is low. The aim of the proposed project is to develop new a ....Improving the Outcomes of Anger Management Programs for Violent Offenders: The Role of Perspective-Taking Deficits in Violent Crime. Criminal justice systems have increasingly identified violent offenders as a key target group for rehabilitation programs. Anger management or violence programs have been widely implemented in Australia. However, recent research evaluating program outcomes suggests that the overall impact of these programs is low. The aim of the proposed project is to develop new and more effective interventions for violent offenders by examining the role of perspective taking deficits in angry and violent behaviour. The research will therefore contribute directly to the reduction of violent crime and improved community safety in Australia.Read moreRead less
Understanding and working with anger in male Indigenous people in prison settings. Anger has links to many important outcomes in the prison environment, including violent behaviour, institutional conflict and self-harm. The nature and consequences of anger have rarely been investigated for imprisoned offenders and little is known about anger in male Indigenous Australians in prison, despite evidence that anger levels in this group are particularly high. This research will explore constitutive, ....Understanding and working with anger in male Indigenous people in prison settings. Anger has links to many important outcomes in the prison environment, including violent behaviour, institutional conflict and self-harm. The nature and consequences of anger have rarely been investigated for imprisoned offenders and little is known about anger in male Indigenous Australians in prison, despite evidence that anger levels in this group are particularly high. This research will explore constitutive, regulatory, procedural and other aspects of anger with male Indigenous prisoners, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, leading to the development of an intervention that will improve both the wellbeing and adjustment of Indigenous men in prison and rehabilitation outcomes.Read moreRead less
Assessing Readiness for Treatment in Violent Offenders. In recent years criminal justice systems have increasingly identified violent offenders as a key target group for rehabilitation programs and anger management programs have now been widely implemented in most jurisdictions. However, recent research evaluating the outcomes of these anger management programs suggests that only some participants are likely to benefit. The aim of this research is to develop a method of identifying the individua ....Assessing Readiness for Treatment in Violent Offenders. In recent years criminal justice systems have increasingly identified violent offenders as a key target group for rehabilitation programs and anger management programs have now been widely implemented in most jurisdictions. However, recent research evaluating the outcomes of these anger management programs suggests that only some participants are likely to benefit. The aim of this research is to develop a method of identifying the individual characteristics of those who are likely to benefit, so that resources and interventions can be targeted. The research will help to improve the effectiveness of program delivery thereby contributing to the reduction of violent crime.Read moreRead less
An Evaluation of Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment. A suspended sentence is a fixed term of imprisonment, the execution of which has been suspended in whole or in part. It is widely used in most Australian jurisdictions. A conflict between public and legal perceptions about the severity of this sanction contributes to a lack of public confidence in the criminal justice system and makes abolition or restrictions on the use of suspended sentences a real possibility when governments feel pressure ....An Evaluation of Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment. A suspended sentence is a fixed term of imprisonment, the execution of which has been suspended in whole or in part. It is widely used in most Australian jurisdictions. A conflict between public and legal perceptions about the severity of this sanction contributes to a lack of public confidence in the criminal justice system and makes abolition or restrictions on the use of suspended sentences a real possibility when governments feel pressured to be tough on crime. This project aims to explore the use of the suspended sentence and to evaluate its efficacy as an alternative to imprisonment.
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