Improving the communication of forensic science evidence to courts. Improving the communication of forensic science evidence to courts. The project aims to reduce the presentation of inaccurate and unscientific forensic science evidence to fact-finders by developing evidence-based recommendations for optimising accurate and effective communication between scientists and courts. The interdisciplinary approach, informed by law, cognitive and forensic science, aims to provide methods for expressing ....Improving the communication of forensic science evidence to courts. Improving the communication of forensic science evidence to courts. The project aims to reduce the presentation of inaccurate and unscientific forensic science evidence to fact-finders by developing evidence-based recommendations for optimising accurate and effective communication between scientists and courts. The interdisciplinary approach, informed by law, cognitive and forensic science, aims to provide methods for expressing opinions that meet stakeholder needs and can be implemented to improve the rectitude of criminal justice systems in Australia and around the world.Read moreRead less
Gauging informed public opinion on sentencing sex offenders: a national study. Sex offences appear to attract the greatest community condemnation and desire to punish, particularly when involving predatory stranger rapists or when the victims are children. This national study aims to ascertain informed public opinion on sex offender sentencing by exploring the views of jurors in sex offence trials in all higher courts in Australia.
Criminalisation of poverty and homelessness in Australia: A national study. The project aims to assess the policing and enforcement of public order crimes and related offences (e.g. obstruct/disobey police, breach of bail, and minor property offences) on individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness. The project endeavours to collect and analyse qualitative data from across Australia on the lived experience of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, regarding the impact of crimin ....Criminalisation of poverty and homelessness in Australia: A national study. The project aims to assess the policing and enforcement of public order crimes and related offences (e.g. obstruct/disobey police, breach of bail, and minor property offences) on individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness. The project endeavours to collect and analyse qualitative data from across Australia on the lived experience of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, regarding the impact of criminal laws and police powers concerned with presence in, and movement around public places. It will particularly focus on the impact on women, children and Indigenous peoples. The outcomes will seek to reduce the criminalisation of homeless people, by identifying law and policy reform options, and comparing their cost with that of 'business as usual'.Read moreRead less
Asking the right questions: improving juror comprehension of judicial directions. Juror comprehension is fundamental to the role of juries in the criminal justice system. This project will comprehensively evaluate jurors' ability to comprehend both standard and modified judicial directions. Based on these results, 'model' processes for jury directions will be recommended, aimed at improving juror comprehension.
Just spaces: security without prejudice in the wireless courtroom. How do jurors respond to seeing defendants in a glass cage, in a traditional wooden dock or at the Bar table? The project will examine how courtroom design shapes attitudes; and, bringing together court executives, architects and researchers, will show how flexible wireless courtrooms can meet both security and human rights standards.
Interpreters in court: witness credibility with interpreted testimony. The study will improve access to justice for non-English speaking witnesses, testifying in court through an interpreter. It achieves this by taking advantage of new wireless technologies to transform the social and technological environment of the courtroom.
Optimising access to the Law Reports Series of Australia's war crimes trials, 1945-51. The forthcoming Law Reports Series on Australia’s war crimes trials held in 1945-51 will be, in effect, the official history of the trials. It is vital, therefore, that all users, particularly the Australian public, are provided with the necessary tools to optimally access the Series and thus obtain a comprehensive understanding of the trials.