Young offenders on community orders: health welfare and criminogenic needs By Dianna Kenny and Paul Nelson
ISBN: 9780980411706 Sydney University Press

Available online through the University of Sydney eScholarship Repository and in print through Sydney University Press.
Online: http://ses.library.usyd.
edu.au/handle/2123/2267
Purchase print http://purl.library.
usyd.edu.au/sup/9780980411706

AICrime Reduction Matters no. 62: Targeting youth gangs at a grass roots level. This paper uses Australian and overseas research to suggest ways of combating youth crime gangs.

http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/crm/
#03c

Anti-gang strategies and interventions
Prepared for and published by the Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth
This paper reviews anti-gang intervention strategies and the limits and possibilities for positive action in regard to gang formation and activities.
Australian Policy Online is acknowledged for advising on this work.

http://www.aracy.org.au/AM/Common/
pdf/Topical%20Papers/AntiGang.pdf

Family group conferencing in Australia 15 years on Nathan Harris
Child Abuse Prevention Issues No. 27 2008 - National Child Protection Clearinghouse / Australian Institute of Family Studies -
Family group conferences were first legislated for in New Zealand in 1989 and since that time have captured the imagination of professionals and academics with their capacity to involve families and communities in a collaborative approach to child welfare concerns. Child protection systems in Australia, as in many other countries, have subsequently introduced conferencing programs. The first trial in Australia was initiated in Victoria in 1992 by a non-government agency (Ban, 1996), and trials in other states soon followed. Fifteen years later, a question worth asking is to what extent has conferencing become part of child protection practice in Australia's states and territories.

Available online at: http://www.aifs.
gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues27/
issues27.html

Intellectual Disability in the Victorian Prison System: Characteristics of prisoners with an Intellectual Disability released from prison in 2003-2006.
Corrections Victoria Research Paper Series
This paper examines and compares the characteristics of a group of prisoners with an intellectual disability in the Victorian prison system with a group that does not have an intellectual disability. Findings from this research will inform the implementation of Corrections Victoria's 2007-2009 Disability Framework, "Addressing the Barriers".

Printed copies of the Paper can be obtained by sending an email message to <corrections@justice.vic.gov.au>

Australian crime: facts & figures 2007
The Australian Institute of Criminology
Includes statistics on recorded crime; selected crime profiles; crime victimisation survey results; selected offender profiles; criminal court statistics; corrections statistics and criminal justice resources, including expenditure on justice, police, court administration and adult corrective services.

http://www.aic.gov.au/
publications/facts/2007/

Missing persons in Australia
Marianne James, Jessica Anderson and Judy Putt
Trends & issues in crime and criminal
justice paper. no. 353 &
Australian Institute of Criminology
Research and public policy series no. 86:

Trends & issues in crime and criminal
justice paper. no. 353: http://www.aic.
gov.au/publications/tandi2/tandi353.html

Research and public policy series no. 86:
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/
rpp/86/index.html

A Summary of Diversion Programs for Drug and Drug-Related Offenders in Australia – Monograph 16: Issued by the Drug Policy Modelling Program
The diversion of illicit drug users and drug-related offenders comprises an important component of Australia's policy response to illicit drugs. Identifying the programs and their key characteristics poses a formidable task for policy makers and researchers, particularly following the recent expansion of diversionary responses. This project has summarised the current state of diversion in Australia: its nature and design. The project identified 51 programs operating for the diversion of drug and drug-related offenders throughout Australia. These programs are now provided across the full spectrum of the diversion system, via police, courts and specialist courts.
By documenting the major types of diversion and their unique features we have identified key similarities and differences. The challenge is to facilitate the improvement of Australia's diversionary response by increasing knowledge of what design features contribute towards the provision of effective diversion and which do not.

http://www.dpmp.unsw.edu.au/
DPMPWeb.nsf/page/Monographs

The Queensland Drug Court: a recidivism study of the first 100 graduates Jason Payne - Australian Institute of Criminology
This report highlights key aspects of the Queensland Drug Court's operation and describes the longitudinal recidivism outcomes of those who are successful and unsuccessful in their endeavours to become drug and crime free.

http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/
rpp/83/

Audit on Defences to Homicide: Accident and Provocation
A Queensland Government discussion paper on defences to homicide, particularly the excuse of accident and the partial defence to murder of provocation which includes a jurisdictional comparison and looks at law reform in other Australian jurisdictions and in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The discussion paper also looks at the role of the jury and the nature of Queensland’s sentencing system and provides data on the use of the defences within the criminal justice system. The Government is calling for submissions on the future use of these defences, and comment on the discussion paper. The closing date for submissions is 3 December 2007

For further information and a copy of the paper, see http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/ourlaws/
public.htm

Report on government services 2008: Indigenous compendium
Productivity Commission

This report provides data to enable ongoing comparisons of the efficiency and effectiveness of Commonwealth and State government services in Australia, including intra-government services.

Part B of this report covers Justice issues, and includes:
A profile of the justice system
Police services
Court administration
Corrective services
Indigenous data in the corrective services chapter
Framework of performance indicators
Future directions

http://www.pc.gov.au/gsp/
reports/rogs/compendium2008

URL

Selling your story-literary proceeds orders under the Commonwealth Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 / Monica Biddington.
Law and Bills Digest Section, 11 April 2008  (Research Paper no. 27, 2007-08).  9 pages.
The Commonwealth's Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (the Act) commenced on 1 January 2003. The Act provides a scheme to trace, restrain and confiscate the proceeds of certain classes of crime against Commonwealth law. In some circumstances it can also be used to confiscate the proceeds of crime against foreign law or the proceeds of crime against state law (if those proceeds have been used in a way that contravenes Commonwealth law). Importantly, confiscation does not always require that a person has been actually convicted of a crime.

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/
pubs/rp/2007-08/08rp27.html
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/
pubs/rp/2007-08/08rp27.pdf 

Conflict of Interest in Policing: Problems, Practices, and Principles
by Cindy Davids
The Institute of Criminology Series No 26 2008
Conflict of interest allegations have become a prominent part of the landscape of political and public sector ethics in Australia and overseas. The arena of policing has not been immune from this problem. This book is based on unique and unfettered access to ten years of internal investigation files held by Victoria Police. Through detailed analysis of actual complaint cases it gives the reader a comprehensive map by which to chart the particular kinds of interests involved, the nature of conflicts with official police duties, and the particular contexts from which conflicts of interest emerge. The book examines conflicts of interest across the private and public realm of the everyday lives of police officers. The author outlines how the problem of conflict of interest is an important aspect of police ethics, arguing that recognition of, and accountability for, conflict of interest may be a significant element in preventing upstream police misconduct and corruption. The book seeks to provide a conceptual and practical understanding of how integrity and trust must be integrated into the profession of policing through processes of active responsibility, rather than more traditional passive obedience to prescriptive rules.

Contact Federation Press to order:
http://www.federationpress.com.au/
Tel: +61 (0)2 9552 2200 
Fax: +61 (0)2 9552 1681   
Email: info@federationpress.com.au

Criminal Discovery: From Truth to Proof and Back Again
by Cosmas Moisidis

OMBUDSMAN REPORTS ON PUBLIC DISORDER POWERS
A report on the NSW Ombudsman's review of extraordinary police powers to prevent or control public disorder tabled in Parliament.
The 18-month review examined the police use of powers introduced in direct response to the Cronulla riots in December 2005. Within days of the riots an emergency session of Parliament passed legislation giving police wide powers to deal with and prevent riots and other large-scale public disorder, including powers to 'lock down' broad areas and expanded search and seizure powers.

Copies of the report can be accessed via www.ombo.nsw.gov.au or by clicking on the link below: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/show.asp?
id=464

The Street review: a review of interoperability between the AFP and its national security partners
Laurence Street, Martin Brady and Ken Moroney / Australian Federal Police
This is the report of an internal review, headed by former New South Wales Chief Justice Sir Laurence Street, looking at the way in which the Australian Federal Police works with its partner agencies on counter-terrorism investigations. The committee made recommendations covering the four broad areas of operational decision-making processes, joint taskforce arrangements, information sharing, and training and education.
Available online at:

http://www.afp.gov.au/
_data/assets/pdf_file/71833/
The_Street_Review.pdf

Recidivism in Australia: findings and future research Jason Payne
Research and public policy series no.80
This report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the different methods used by Australian researchers to measure recidivism. It identifies three priority areas for future investment the development of a national research agenda and national indicators of recidivism; improving capacity through improving the quality of administrative databases (including linkage) and positively enabling access to the data by researchers; and improving the value of recidivism for policy development by improving methodological clarity and rigour.

Research and public policy series no.80
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/rpp/
80/

On Friday 26 October the Sentencing Advisory Council released a report recommending the maximum penalty for negligently causing serious injury (NCSI) be increased. The Council's report recommends the maximum penalty for NCSI be increased from five years' to ten years' imprisonment. The council has also suggested that the maximum penalty for the offence of dangerous driving causing death be increased from five to ten years' imprisonment. The report responds to a request by the Attorney-General, the Hon Rob Hulls, MP, for the Council's advice on the adequacy of the current maximum penalty for NCSI, particularly in relation to driving matters. The Council reviewed the maximum term of imprisonment available for NCSI, and feels the maximum penalty is currently inadequate. The view of the council is consistent with judges of the County Court, members of the Court of Appeal and the other participants in the Council's  consultation process. The consensus is that the current maximum penalty does not adequately reflect the serious nature of the offence, nor does it  provide for the worst examples of the offence.                            

The report is available free for download from the Council's website at
http://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au

Final Report on Sentence Indication and Specified Sentence Discounts.

The report and a summary are available free for download from the Council's website at http://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au

Sentencing trends for trafficking in a non-commercial quantity of drugs - Sentencing Advisory Council
There were 622 people sentenced for the principal offence of drug trafficking in a non-commercial quantity in the higher courts between
2002-03 and 2006-07. Nearly half (47%) of the people sentenced over the five year period received a period of imprisonment, while 30% received a wholly suspended sentence of imprisonment. The most common sentence of imprisonment was two years with a one year non-parole period. The most common offence finalised in conjunction with drug trafficking in a non-commercial quantity was possessing a drug of dependence (29.4% of all cases).

Sentencing trends for trafficking in a commercial quantity of drugs - Sentencing Advisory Council
There were 189 people sentenced for the principal offence of trafficking in a commercial quantity of drugs in the higher courts between 2002-03 and 2006-07.  The most common sentencing outcome for people sentenced over the five year period was immediate imprisonment (79%) followed by wholly suspended sentences of imprisonment (13%). The most common sentence of imprisonment was four years with a two year non-parole period. The most common offence finalised in conjunction with drug trafficking in a commercial quantity was theft (25.4% of all cases).

Sentencing trends for trafficking in a large commercial quantity of drugs - Sentencing Advisory Council
There were 47 people sentenced for the principal offence of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of drugs in the higher courts between 2002-03 and 2006-07.  The majority (87%) of the people sentenced over the five year period received a sentence of immediate imprisonment, while 9% received a mixed sentence of immediate imprisonment and a fine.  The most common sentence of imprisonment was seven years with a four year non-parole period. The most common offence finalised in conjunction with drug trafficking in a large commercial quantity was possessing a drug of dependence (25.5% of all cases).

Sentencing trends for cultivating narcotic plants in the higher courts of Victoria - Sentencing Advisory Council
There were 92 people sentenced for the principal offence of cultivating narcotic plants in the higher courts between 2002-03 and 2006-07. From
2005-06 to 2006-07, there was a decrease in the use of wholly suspended sentences (from 48% in 2005-06 to 36% in 2006-07) and partially suspended sentences (from 19% to 9%).  Over the same period there was an increase in the use of imprisonment (from 19% in 2005-06 to 27% in 2006-07). Over the five year period, around half of the people sentenced received a wholly suspended sentence of imprisonment (46%), while 18% received a period of imprisonment and 10% received a partially suspended sentence of imprisonment.  The most common wholly suspended sentence length was one year.  The most common sentence of imprisonment was one year with a non-parole period of less than one year. The most common offence finalised in conjunction with cultivating narcotic plants was theft (53.3% of all cases).

Juror attitudes and biases in sexual assault cases Natalie Taylor
This report presents findings from two recent studies conducted by the Australian Institute of Criminology which show that juror judgements in rape trials are influenced more by the attitudes, beliefs and biases about rape which jurors bring with them into the courtroom than by the evidence presented.

Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice series no. 344
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi
2/tandi344.html

Acquittals in the higher courtsThis paper compares the acquittal rate for sexual assault cases against other offences before the higher courts.

Crime Facts Info no. 159: Acquittals in the higher courts
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/cfi/cfi
159.html

The National CARS Project release Australia's most comprehensive auto-theft information resource annually. The CD-ROM presents both an overview of national trends and detailed profiles of each state and territory. The reports can be viewed as a whole, or specific statistics can easily be found by using the simple subject navigation menus.

More information about the National Cars Project is available at: www.ncars.on.net
The CD-ROM for the 2006/07 financial year is now available. Email your details to bath.graham@saugov.sa.gov.au and CARS will post you a copy.

Carjacking in Australia: recording issues and future directions
Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice paper
Lisa Jane Young and Maria Borzycki
Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2008
This paper examines reports of carjacking in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa.

Counting the costs of crime in Australia: a 2005 updat by Kiah Rollings
Australian Institute of Criminology
Research and public police series no 91
At $35.5b, this is a slight increase over inflation. While costs associated with some crimes have decreased, others, fraud has increased substantially, largely through electronically-assissted ID theft and other cybercrimes. Criminal justice system costs have also increased since 2001. The report highlights the need for better data on the costs of crime.

http://www.aic.gov.au/
publications/rpp/91/

Storage arrangements for firearms at time of theft, 2005–06
Crime Facts Info - Australian Institute of Criminology

Crime victimisation in Australia: key results of the 2004 International Crime Victimisation Survey
Published by the Netherlands Ministry of Justice

http://www.aic.gov.au/
publications/rpp/64/index.html

Criminal victimisation in international perspective: key findings from the 2004-2005 ICVS and EU ICS
Jan van Dijk, John van Kesteren and Paul Smit
Published by the Netherlands Ministry of Justice

Measuring the burden of interpersonal violence victimisation in Western Australia Lynn Meuleners, Delia Hendrie and Andy H Lee
Trends & Issues in crime and criminal justice no. 352 - The Australian Institute of Criminology