Restorative Justice – Does It Really Work?
If you had been physically or sexually assaulted, would you ever consider facing the person who assaulted you to tell them how the incident had impacted upon your life? Such a situation might seem confronting, but for some it offers...
Prison Staff Who Commit Crimes
When you hear about crime happening in prisons, you probably tend to think it’s the inmates, right? Well, it’s not just the prisoners. Prison staff can also be involved, as these two recent cases appear to demonstrate. Trade instructor convicted...
Is Being Aggressive Illegal?
An Australian man flying home from Chile last October had an unexpected layover in New Zealand after he was charged with indecent assault and threatening to kill over allegedly becoming drunk and aggressive towards flight staff. While Qantas has a...
The Continuing Issue of Police Brutality in Australia
The tragic death of 18-year-old African-American Michael Brown, who was shot dead by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri last year, thrust the issue of police brutality into the media spotlight. Since the incident, a string of cases linked...
Sobriety Bracelets as an Alternative to Prison
Most of us are aware that very little rehabilitation occurs in prison, so naturally, alternatives to incarceration can be a good thing in the long run. One initiative to cut down on alcohol-fuelled crime and the rising prison population is...
When a Drunken Hug Turned to Tragedy
Zak Harvey was having a great time. The 32-year-old was out on a Saturday night in Perth, clubbing and drinking. An affectionate person by nature, Harvey was on the street outside a nightclub giving hugs to passers-by in the early...
Rights Abused While in Police Custody
The safety and wellbeing of people being held in police custody is again in the spotlight with shocking allegations emerging that a woman was held for 16 hours at Ballarat police station in regional Victoria, and not provided with any...
Domestic Violence Offenders to Wear Tracking Devices
GPS trackers are becoming an increasingly common tool of law enforcement. They can function both as a punishment as well as a preventative measure against future crimes taking place. They are currently used on those who commit child sex offences...
Video Evidence in Domestic Violence Cases
A controversial new law has recently come into force allowing complainants in domestic violence cases to make recorded audio-visual statements, rather than written statements. The new laws allow for video footage obtained by police following an alleged domestic violence incident...
Will the National Domestic Violence Scheme be Effective?
The death of 11-year-old Victorian boy Luke Batty at the hands of his father in February 2014 highlighted for many the seriousness and the cost of domestic violence, and sparked a national campaign to protect women and children. More than...
