Criminal Justice Processes and Perspectives in a Changing World (From Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Milan, Italy, 1985, P 31-60, Leona Jorgensen and Jack Sandry, eds. - See NCJ-100063)

• NCJ Number: 100065
• Author(s): B Clifford; R W Harding
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 30 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

Criminal justice issues of particular concern to Australia, crime prevention, the legislative process, changing perspectives in the criminal justice services, the fair treatment of women by the criminal justice system, public opinion, and research.

Abstract

It is noted that Australia has several criminal justice systems. Power to make and enforce criminal law is distributed between eight jurisdictions. Services and policies have been developed independently and often are not consistent from one jurisdiction to the next. However, since 1975, several intergovernmental structures designed to enhance coordination and planning among the various Australian criminal justice systems has become prominent: the Australian Police Ministers' Council, the Ministerial Council on Human Rights, the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General, the Australian Aboriginal Affairs Council, and others. Concerning crime prevention, Australia is very well organized at the micro level, and the Australian Institute of Criminology encourages local authorities to look at crime prevention in broader terms than just those measures directed toward deterring street crime. A brief look at the legislative process in Australia point out that legislatures do not always follow public opinion in formulating law. Often legislatures pass laws in advance of public opinion. An examination of changes in criminal justice highlights reforms in the eight police forces, the courts and judiciary, and correctional services in each State and the Northern Territory. Specific issues requiring long-term planning are noted. Australia is touted as being in the forefront of the movement to improve women's rights and those of parties in the criminal justice system. Public opinions influence on the development of criminal justice processes is urged in one essay. A concluding paper notes that, in general, Australian research in criminal justice is conducted by a small number of universities. 5 graphs, 3 tables.