Private Security and Public Interest: Exploring Private Security Trends and Directions for Reform in the New Era of Plural Policing. This study will provide the first ever comprehensive assessment of private security and what it can and cannot offer society in terms of fair and effective order maintenance, crime prevention and law enforcement in Australia. Stemming from problems incurred by the sector, the research will address how governments should regulate the growing range of policing functi ....Private Security and Public Interest: Exploring Private Security Trends and Directions for Reform in the New Era of Plural Policing. This study will provide the first ever comprehensive assessment of private security and what it can and cannot offer society in terms of fair and effective order maintenance, crime prevention and law enforcement in Australia. Stemming from problems incurred by the sector, the research will address how governments should regulate the growing range of policing functions undertaken by private providers. It will also address the issue of how private police can best satisfy legal and justice criteria, meet the demands of accountability and develop mutually beneficial models of cooperation with the public sector. The research will recommend to policy-makers preferred 'plural' policing models for the 21st century.Read moreRead less
The Changing Role Of The Magistrates Court. Magistrates courts have far more contact with the community than any other court but have rarely been the subject of direct research. Recent changes include greater professional qualifications for magistrates and increased volume, complexity and seriousness of cases. This project will survey the changing social/demographic characteristics of magistrates; analyse their daily work, especially increased judicial functions; and examine roles played by s ....The Changing Role Of The Magistrates Court. Magistrates courts have far more contact with the community than any other court but have rarely been the subject of direct research. Recent changes include greater professional qualifications for magistrates and increased volume, complexity and seriousness of cases. This project will survey the changing social/demographic characteristics of magistrates; analyse their daily work, especially increased judicial functions; and examine roles played by social service providers. It will produce a better understanding of magistrates courts, emphasising ideas of judicial independence and accountability, essential to ensuring high standards for the Australian legal system and its relation to the community.Read moreRead less
Gateways to Justice: improving video-mediated communications for justice participants. Australia will be better protected from terrorism and crime if courts are able to make effective use of high-quality video evidence, both from scientific experts and from key witnesses who cannot be produced in person for security reasons. Appropriate application of the technology can also increase effective and timely access to justice for other justice participants including indigenous people in remote commu ....Gateways to Justice: improving video-mediated communications for justice participants. Australia will be better protected from terrorism and crime if courts are able to make effective use of high-quality video evidence, both from scientific experts and from key witnesses who cannot be produced in person for security reasons. Appropriate application of the technology can also increase effective and timely access to justice for other justice participants including indigenous people in remote communities. The project contributes to the take-up of frontier technologies by developing a best practice model for using video testimony in justice settings, and identifying the social and environmental conditions necessary for successful implementation.Read moreRead less
Judicial Officers and Workload Allocation. Courts and judges constitute a key social and legal institution with a distinctive obligation to maintain the rule of law. The knowledge produced by this research will benefit the judiciary, the courts, government and the public they serve. Research findings about the allocation of judicial work will be used by courts and government to shape policy in recruitment, selection and professional development. It will assist individual judicial officers to ....Judicial Officers and Workload Allocation. Courts and judges constitute a key social and legal institution with a distinctive obligation to maintain the rule of law. The knowledge produced by this research will benefit the judiciary, the courts, government and the public they serve. Research findings about the allocation of judicial work will be used by courts and government to shape policy in recruitment, selection and professional development. It will assist individual judicial officers to manage their workloads and provide valuable information for courts in managing independent professionals. This research will improve public and scholarly understanding of Australia's courts and will help sustain an institution essential for safeguarding Australia.Read moreRead less