Should We Bring Back The Youth Drug and Alcohol Court?
Adolescence is a time of transition and change as young people find their feet in the adult world. For many, it also marks the start of new experiences such as drinking, going out, and experimenting with drugs - often behind...
Does More Guns Mean More Gun Crimes?
Australia usually prides itself on its strict firearms laws, which have been hailed as a model for reform by other countries plagued by high rates of gun crime, including the United States. Following the tragic Port Arthur Massacre in 1996,...
Does Prison Overcrowding Warrant Lighter Penalties?
Prison overcrowding is a major problem right across the state, with some prisons already operating at more than 70% beyond capacity. Many of our previous blogs have discussed the impact of overcrowding on the ability of inmates to access education...
Smoking Now Banned in NSW Prisons
When Victoria rolled out its ban on smoking in prisons last month, riots broke out in the Metropolitan Remand Centre. The riots lasted for hours and a lockdown of all prisons in Victoria followed. Up to 300 inmates were allegedly...
The Real Spycatcher: Government Crimes, Secrets and Lies
Government secrets and assassination plots make for intriguing reading - especially when they are true. But what happens when the government doesn’t want the information to become available to the public? In 1987, Peter Wright, wrote a book entitled Spycatcher:...
Australia’s Treatment of Asylum Seekers: Crime Against Humanity?
Australia has its own criminal laws, both at a state and federal level, but we are also a signatory to the treaty which established the International Court of Criminal Justice (ICC) in 2002. What does the ICC do? A...
Should Courts Remain Open to the Public?
Many people are surprised to find out that anyone can walk into a courtroom and watch criminal proceedings. Subject to certain exceptions - including cases involving child defendants and parts of sexual assault cases – courts are open to anyone...
Inquiry Reveals Effect of Recent Laws on our Rights
Many are appalled by the Abbott government’s brazen erosion of our civil liberties since coming to power in 2013. In particular, the government has been accused of attacking freedom of speech through a number of pieces of legislation - most...
Paying Compensation for Crimes: Restitution, Reparation and Victims Compensation
For those who plead guilty or are found guilty of a criminal offence, the next step is the sentencing date - which is where the magistrate or judge decides the appropriate penalty. Defendants obviously want the best possible outcome when...
Smoking While Pregnant and Criminal Kids
Smoking while pregnant is frowned upon, with experts warning that it increases the risk of ectopic pregnancies, premature labour, miscarriages and developmental problems in children. But a new study has found it may have other hidden risks; with the Australian...
