DOCSLIB.ORG

The Effect of Arrest on Indigenous Employment Prospects B

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Effect of Arrest on Indigenous Employment Prospects B CRIMEB U R E A U O ANDF C R I M E JUSTICE S T A T I S T I C S A N D R E S E A R C H NSW Bureau of Crime Bulletin Statistics and Research Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Number 45 June 1999 The effect of arrest on Indigenous employment prospects B. Hunter1 and J. Borland2 The effects of criminal conviction on an individual’s employment prospects are a matter of policy significance, especially for Australian Aboriginals who are overrepresented both among the unemployed and among those who come before the criminal justice system. In this study the effect of arrest on the employment status of indigenous Australians is examined using data from the 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey. Having been arrested is found to significantly reduce the probability of indigenous employment by 18.3 and 13.1 percentage points for males and females respectively. The effect also varies according to the reason for a person’s most recent arrest. Differences in arrest rates between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians may explain about 15 per cent of the difference in the level of employment between those groups. Promoting diversion options should be a priority for governments keen to break the nexus between indigenous unemployment and crime. INTRODUCTION and results the reader is referred to the The potential effect of arrest on full report (Borland & Hunter 1999). employment outcomes of indigenous Criminologists have long been interested There are a number of reasons why Australians is of interest for a number of in the relationship between unemployment linkages might exist between arrest or reasons. First, it may be important for and crime but have historically spent crime and employment. Arrest may understanding differences in employment much more time examining the effect affect a person’s employment outcome. outcomes between indigenous and other of unemployment on criminal behaviour A person who has been arrested and/or Australians. Arrest rates for indigenous than the effect of a criminal conviction on convicted of an offence may be Australians are significantly greater than an individual’s employment prospects. stigmatised by employers and hence be for other Australians – for example, in This second issue is particularly salient less likely to obtain employment. 1994 indigenous Australians comprised for Australian Aboriginals who are Alternatively, employers may be deterred 2.6 per cent of the population in Western overrepresented among both the from locating in regions with high levels Australia yet accounted for 20.2 per cent unemployed and those who have been of criminal activity and hence there may of total arrests (Broadhurst 1997, p. 426). arrested. be limited employment opportunities for Hence, if having been arrested has a Preliminary analysis of the 1994 National persons living in those regions. There negative effect on a person’s probability Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are other possibilities as well. Contact of employment, the disparity in arrest Survey (NATSIS) indicates that arrest is with the criminal justice system may rates may explain part of the difference in affect a person’s motivation to work, or one of the major factors underlying the employment outcomes between perceptions of the expected benefits from poor employment prospects of the indigenous and other Australians. seeking employment, and hence lower indigenous population (Australian Bureau the probability of employment. of Statistics 1996a; Hunter 1997). Second, understanding the relationship between an individual’s arrest record and Unfortunately, these early studies could It is important to bear in mind, though, not determine the direction of causality that, not only can a person's arrest history employment outcome provides an insight between arrest and employment. This affect the likelihood of being employed, a into the social costs of contact with the bulletin reports on the results of a person’s employment outcome may also criminal justice system for indigenous statistical analysis which examines how affect the likelihood of being arrested. For Australians. This seems particularly having an arrest history affects an example, a response to being unable to important where there is a possibility that Australian Aboriginal’s employment obtain employment may be to engage in much of this contact for indigenous status. The bulletin provides an overview drinking which increases the probability of Australians arises from differential of a detailed study conducted by the being arrested for offences relating to treatment of indigenous and non- authors. For further details of the analysis drunkenness. indigenous Australians rather than 1 B U R E A U O F C R I M E S T A T I S T I C S A N D R E S E A R C H differences in behaviour (see, for Table 1 shows the aggregate Table 3 shows the reasons for the most example, Gallagher & Poletti 1998). employment/population rate,3 and the recent arrest. The most common In this bulletin we use data from the employment/population rate reasons for arrest relate to drinking – NATSIS to examine the determinants of disaggregated by arrest record and by 23.1 per cent of males and 6.6 per cent employment outcomes for indigenous type of employment – in Community of females had charges for drink driving Australians. The NATSIS was Development Employment Projects or drinking in public in their most recent undertaken by the Australian Bureau of (CDEP) employment and in non-CDEP arrest in the previous five years. Theft is Statistics (ABS) in April to July 1994 in employment. The CDEP scheme is a a relatively minor component of response to a recommendation by the Commonwealth government program indigenous arrests. Given that theft is Royal Commission into Aboriginal under which unemployed indigenous the only category of indigenous arrest for Deaths in Custody (Commonwealth of persons of working age forego individual which there may be a pecuniary Australia 1991). The NATSIS covered a entitlements to unemployment benefit incentive, the preponderance of total of 4,205 households, which yielded payments in return for a grant to their indigenous arrests are not for offences 15,726 indigenous respondents, 3,076 local community council which is used to committed for financial gain. non-indigenous persons living in the fund job creation in community same household as an indigenous development activities.4 person and 158 prisoners (Australian DESCRIBING EMPLOYMENT Bureau of Statistics 1996b). For our Table 1 shows that the employment/ IN THE CONTEXT OF HIGH analysis a restricted sample was selected population rate is lower for persons who ARREST RATES from the NATSIS. First, only working-age had been arrested than for persons who members of the population (15-64 years) had not been arrested in the five years The aim of our analysis is to determine who were not in full-time schooling were prior to the survey. It is also evident that the effect of an arrest history on an included. Second, persons who were in this pattern in aggregate employment is Australian Aboriginal’s chances of being prison at the time of the survey were solely due to the fact that those with an employed. One issue which arises in excluded; this group represented 1.8 per arrest record are much less likely to be analysing arrest data from a self- cent of the total sample population. found in non-CDEP employment. There were 8,402 respondents in this response survey is the possibility of restricted sample. The sample was Table 2 presents information on the under-reporting of arrest. For example, further reduced to 7,568 persons after proportions of the indigenous population Freeman (1994, p. 16) notes that it is deleting observations that did not have a arrested in the last five years by selected common to find under-reporting of crime complete record of all the information characteristics. The table shows that in the United States by black youths. To required for the analysis. 33.3 per cent of males, and 11.2 per cent examine potential under-reporting of of females, had been arrested in the last arrest by indigenous Australians we are five years. For those arrested the restricted to a comparison between LABOUR FORCE average number of arrests is 3.0 for NATSIS data and official police data for CHARACTERISTICS males and 2.2 for females. Generally, Western Australia as this is the only AND HIGH INDIGENOUS males in younger age groups and with State which reports official police arrest ARREST RATES lower levels of educational attainment data disaggregated by indigenous and have the highest incidence of arrest. non-indigenous persons. Estimates We begin with some descriptive There does not appear to be any pattern based on the official police data indicate information on employment and arrest in the incidence of arrest for persons that the proportion of indigenous persons experience for the indigenous population. living in different regions. arrested in Western Australia between Table 1: Labour force status by whether arrested in past five years, Indigenous Australians aged 15-64, 1994 Males Females Not arrested Arrested Not arrested Arrested Employment status (%) (%) (%) (%) Employed-total 55.5 40.9 31.3 22.5 CDEP 19.2 21.5 9.6 10.9 non-CDEP 36.3 19.4 21.7 11.6 Unemployed 23.0 39.4 15.7 32.3 Not in labour force 21.5 19.7 53.0 45.2 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Number of observations 2,628 1,217 4,071 486 Source: NATSIS, unit record file. 2 B U R E A U O F C R I M E S T A T I S T I C S A N D R E S E A R C H Table 2: Arrests in last five years
Load more

Recommended publications
  • What Are the Key Characteristics of Organised Crime? 7 How Does Organised Crime Affect Us? 8 How Are We Responding? 9
    Correspondence should be addressed to: Chief Executive Officer Australian Crime Commission PO Box 1936 Canberra City ACT 2601 Telephone: 02 6243 6666 (from within Australia) 61 2 6243 6666 (international) Facsimile: 02 6243 6687 (from within Australia) 61 2 6243 6687 (international) Published May 2015 © Commonwealth of Australia 2015. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Chief Executive Officer, Australian Crime Commission. ISSN 2202-3925 1 ORGANISED CRIME IN AUSTRALIA 2015 AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION CEO FOREWORD MR CHRIS DAWSON APM Organised Crime in Australia 2015 is the Australian Crime Commission’s biennial public report that delivers a current picture of the serious and organised crime environment in Australia. It outlines the existing and emerging organised crime threats impacting the Australian community and national interests. 2 Serious and organised crime is growing in sophistication and constantly adopting new and advanced technologies to undertake illegal activities. It exploits the internet and other technologies to target the community through activities such as online scams, cybercrime and the theft of personal identity information stored electronically. It is expanding its reach globally and injecting itself into new markets—both legitimate and illegitimate—in order to increase its opportunities to generate illicit wealth. It works to conceal unlawfully derived profits, seeking to intermingle those funds with legitimately earned money. These activities significantly affect the wellbeing of families and communities across Australia. Serious and organised crime diverts funds out of the legitimate economy and undermines the profitability of lawful businesses.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 4, Number 2 2016
    Volume 4, Number 2 2016 Salus Journal A peer-reviewed, open access journal for topics concerning law enforcement, national security, and emergency management Published by Charles Sturt University Australia ISSN 2202-5677 Editorial Board—Associate Editors Volume 4, Number 2, 2016 Dr Jeremy G Carter www.salusjournal.com Indiana University-Purdue University Dr Anna Corbo Crehan Charles Sturt University, Canberra Published by Dr Ruth Delaforce Griffith University, Queensland Charles Sturt University Australian Graduate School of Policing and Dr Garth den Heyer Security New Zealand Police PO Box 168 Dr Victoria Herrington Manly, New South Wales, Australia, 1655 Australian Institute of Police Management Dr Valerie Ingham ISSN 2202-5677 Charles Sturt University, Canberra Dr Stephen Marrin James Madison University, Virginia Dr Alida Merlo Advisory Board Indiana University of Pennsylvania Associate Professor Nicholas O’Brien (Chair) Dr Alexey D. Muraviev Professor Simon Bronitt Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia Professor Ross Chambers Dr Maid Pajevic Professor Mick Keelty APM, AO College 'Logos Center' Mostar, Mr Warwick Jones, BA MDefStudies Bosnia-Herzegovina Dr Felix Patrikeeff University of Adelaide, South Australia Dr Tim Prenzler Editor-in-Chief Griffith University, Queensland Dr Henry Prunckun Dr Suzanna Ramirez Charles Sturt University, Sydney University of Queensland Dr Susan Robinson Assistant Editor Charles Sturt University, Canberra Ms Kellie Smyth, BA, MApAnth, GradCert Dr Rick Sarre (LearnTeach in HigherEd) University of
    [Show full text]
  • New South Wales Recorded Crime Statistics
    Statistical Report Series NEW SOUTH WALES RECORDED CRIME STATISTICS Quarterly Update September 2017 NSW Statistical Areas and Local Government Areas NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research NSW Recorded Crime Statistics, September Quarter 2017 2 CONTENTS SECTION 1: OVERVIEW OF TRENDS IN RECORDED CRIME, BY OFFENCE TYPE . 3 Table 1.1 Trends in recorded criminal incidents for major offences, over the 60 months to September 2017, NSW . 4 Table 1.2 Number and trends in recorded criminal incidents for 62 offences, over the 24 months to September 2017, NSW . 5 SECTION 2: TRENDS, RATE COMPARISONS AND RECORDED CRIMINAL INCIDENTS FOR MAJOR OFFENCES, NSW REGIONS AND LGAS . 7 Table 2.1A Trends in recorded criminal incidents for major offences, over the 24 months to September 2017, NSW SAs . 8 Table 2.1B Ratio to NSW rate of recorded criminal incidents per 100,000 population for major offences, over the 12 months to September 2017, NSW SAs . 8 Table 2.1C Number of recorded criminal incidents for major offences, over the 12 months to September 2017, NSW SAs . 9 Table 2.1D Number of recorded criminal incidents for major offences, over the 12 months to September 2016, NSW SAs . 9 Table 2.2A Trends in recorded criminal incidents for major offences, over the 24 months to September 2017, Greater Sydney SAs . 10 Table 2.2B Ratio to NSW rate of recorded criminal incidents per 100,000 population for major offences, over the 12 months to September 2017, Greater Sydney SAs . 10 Table 2.2C Number of recorded criminal incidents for major offences, over the 12 months to September 2017, Greater Sydney SAs .
    [Show full text]
  • Patrolling a Global Beat
    Patrolling a global beat “It's the biggest single seizure of ecstasy in the world” - ABC’s Lateline Program, August 8, 2008 Fifteen million ecstasy pills weighing 4.4 tonnes had been concealed inside tomato tins and hidden in a shipping container. For more than a year the AFP, Australian Customs, Victoria Police, the Australian Crime Commission and international law enforcement agencies had worked to bring the drug trafficking investigation to its successful conclusion. Known as ‘Operation Inca,’ the investigation led to the arrest of significant organised crime figures in Australia, and shut down a major international drug smuggling syndicate. Arrests were made in Belgium and the Netherlands, and as a result of the investigation police identified money laundering operations worth more than $9 million. The record haul led to Australia becoming the world leader in seizures of MDMA (ecstasy), accounting for more than a quarter of all global seizures of the drug in 2008. Stopping criminal syndicates from smuggling drugs into Australia is one of the AFP’s key areas of operation. For 30 years it has worked with its Australian and international law enforcement partners on many successful investigations, including the arrest of 20 people in 1985 as part of Operation Lavender. During the investigation police confiscated boats, cars and cash – and found almost a tonne of cannabis resin at a Sydney rubbish dump. The illicit drug trade has become an international multi-billion dollar business that has grown exponentially since the AFP began in 1979. Drug use in Australia has also changed. In the early 1980s, most drug seizures were of cannabis and heroin derivatives.
    [Show full text]
  • A Statistical Snapshot of Crime and Justice in New South Wales Statistical Indicators 5/10 by Talina Drabsch
    A statistical snapshot of crime and justice in New South Wales Statistical Indicators 5/10 by Talina Drabsch RELATED PUBLICATIONS • Economic Indicators: NSW (October 2010), NSW Parliamentary Library Statistical Indicators No 4/10 by Talina Drabsch • Health, Education and Community Indicators for NSW, NSW Parliamentary Library Statistical Indicators No 3/10 by Talina Drabsch ISSN 1838-0190 October 2010 © 2010 Except to the extent of the uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the prior written consent from the New South Wales Parliamentary Library, other than by Members of the New South Wales Parliament in the course of their official duties. A statistical snapshot of crime and justice in New South Wales by Talina Drabsch NSW PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY RESEARCH SERVICE Gareth Griffith (BSc (Econ) (Hons), LLB (Hons), PhD), Manager, Politics & Government/Law .......................................... (02) 9230 2356 Lenny Roth (BCom, LLB), Acting Senior Research Officer, Law ............................................ (02) 9230 2768 Todd Buttsworth (BMedia), Research Officer, Social Issues/Law ............................................ (02) 9230 3085 Talina Drabsch (BA, LLB (Hons)), Research Officer, Social Issues/Law ........................................... (02) 9230 2484 Daniel Montoya (BEnvSc (Hons), PhD), Research Officer, Environment/Planning .................................... (02) 9230 2003 John Wilkinson (MA, PhD), Research Officer, Economics ........... (02) 9230 2006 Should Members or their staff require further information about this publication please contact the author. Information about Research Publications can be found on the Internet at: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/V3LIstRPSubject Advice on legislation or legal policy issues contained in this paper is provided for use in parliamentary debate and for related parliamentary purposes.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Territory Safe Streets Audit
    Northern Territory Safe Streets Audit Prepared by the Northern Institute at Charles Darwin University and the Australian Institute of Criminology Anthony Morgan Emma Williams Lauren Renshaw Johanna Funk Special report Northern Territory Safe Streets Audit Prepared by the Northern Institute at Charles Darwin University and the Australian Institute of Criminology Anthony Morgan Emma Williams Lauren Renshaw Johanna Funk Special report aic.gov.au © Australian Institute of Criminology 2014 ISBN 978 1 922009 72 2 (Print) 978 1 922009 73 9 (Online) Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this publication may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publisher. Published by the Australian Institute of Criminology GPO Box 2944 Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: (02) 6260 9200 Fax: (02) 6260 9299 Email: [email protected] Website: aic.gov.au Please note: minor revisions are occasionally made to publications after release. The online versions available on the AIC website will always include any revisions. Disclaimer: This research report does not necessarily reflect the policy position of the Australian Government. Edited and typeset by the Australian Institute of Criminology A full list of publications in the AIC Reports series can be found on the Australian
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Federal Police Submission to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit
    AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE SUBMISSION TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT REVIEW OF COASTWATCH June 2000 2 Introduction The Australian Federal Police (AFP) appreciates the opportunity to provide a submission to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit Review of Coastwatch. Background The AFP role is to enforce the Commonwealth criminal law and protect Commonwealth and national interests from crime in Australia and overseas. The AFP is Australia’s international law enforcement and policing representative and primary source of advice to the Government on policing issues. The AFP’s functions are set out in section 8 of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979. These functions include the provision of police services in relation to: • laws of the Commonwealth; • property of the Commonwealth (including Commonwealth places) and property of authorities of the Commonwealth; • the safeguarding of Commonwealth interests; and • anything incidental or conducive to the performance of the foregoing functions. Within this framework, the AFP is expected to pursue clearly defined outcomes agreed by the Government. The outcomes currently being pursued by the AFP include: • that criminal activity is deterred in areas impacting on the Commonwealth Government’s interests; • that those individuals and interests identified by the Commonwealth Government or the AFP as being at risk are kept safe and secure as a result of AFP protective services; • that policing activity creates a safer and more secure environment in the Act, Jervis Bay and Australia’s external territories; • that the Commonwealth Government contributes effectively to international law enforcement interests; and that community confidence in the honesty, effectiveness and accountability of the AFP is high.
    [Show full text]
  • Counting the Costs of Identity Crime and Misuse in Australia, 2018–19
    AIC reports Statistical Report 28 Counting the costs of identity crime and misuse in Australia, 2018–19 Russell G Smith Christie Franks Australian Institute of Criminology Counting the costs of identity crime and misuse in Australia, 2018–19 © Australian Institute of Criminology 2020 ISSN 2206-7930 (Online) ISBN 978 1 925304 75 6 (Online) Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this publication may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publisher. Published by the Australian Institute of Criminology GPO Box 1936 Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: (02) 6268 7166 Email: [email protected] Website: aic.gov.au Please note: Minor revisions are occasionally made to publications after release. The online versions available on the AIC website will always include any revisions. Disclaimer: This research report does not necessarily reflect the policy position of the Australian Government. General editor: Dr Rick Brown, Deputy Director, Australian Institute of Criminology Edited and typeset by the Australian Institute of Criminology A full list of publications in the AIC Reports series can be found on the Australian Institute of Criminology website at aic.gov.au ii Contents iv Abstract v Executive summary v Cost of identity crime 1 Introduction 3 Methodology
    [Show full text]
  • Arson and Deliberately Lit Fires Final Report No. 1
    ARSON & DELIBERATELY LIT FIRES FINAL REPORT NO. 1 December 2012 About This Final Consultation Advice Responses to the Consultation Paper were This report makes received from: recommendations to the Attorney-General in relation • Mr D L Hine, Secretary, to the serious issue of arson Department of Police and and deliberately lit fires in Emergency Management, Tasmania. This report was Tasmania one of the four initial referrals • Mr M Brown, Chief Officer, to the Sentencing Advisory Tasmania Fire Service Council at its inception in June 2010. The publication of • Mr M Daly, Secretary, this report follows the release Department of Health and of a Consultation Paper Human Services, Tasmania in December 2011. The • Mr T Ellis SC, Director purpose of the Consultation of Public Prosecutions, Paper was to assist in the Tasmania Information on discussion about the legislative • Mr R Williams, Deputy framework, sentencing Secretary, Corrective the Sentencing options, intervention and Services and Monetary Advisory Council community information Penalty Enforcement programs available for adults Service, Department of The Sentencing Advisory and juveniles involved in Justice, Tasmania Council was established firesetting in Tasmania. The • Ms A Ashford, in June 2010 by the then Consultation Paper posed 19 Commissioner for Attorney-General and questions, including: Children, Tasmania Minister for Justice, the Hon Lara Giddings MP. The • the introduction of new • Dr K Fritzon and Council was established, in criminal provisions Dr R Doley, Bond part, as an advisory body • pre-sentence reports to University, Queensland to the Attorney-General. determine the level of risk Acknowledgments • Hon M Gaffney, MLC, Its other functions are to for juveniles Member for Mersey bridge the gap between This Final Advice was written • the deferral of sentences • Ms A Allen, community the community, the courts by Ms Lisa Gregg.
    [Show full text]
  • AFP Corporate Plan 2019-20
    CORPORATE PLAN 2019–20 covering 2019–20 to 2022–23 ISSN 2205-2534 Contents © Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Federal Police, 2019 Commissioner’s foreword . 2 Ownership of intellectual property rights in this publication Home Affairs Portfolio . 4 Unless otherwise noted, copyright (and any other intellectual property rights, if any) Purpose . 5 in this publication is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia (referred to below as the Commonwealth). Operating environment . 8 Creative Commons licence Our approach . 8 Maximising operational impact . 9 This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence, which allows Cultural and organisational health . .. 16 you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided that you attribute the work. A summary of the licence terms is available from Capable and future ready AFP . 18 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en. The full licence terms are available from Our people . 18 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode. Our processes, technologies and infrastructure . 19 The Commonwealth’s preference is that you attribute this publication (and any material sourced from it) using the following wording: The AFP’s approach to risk management . .. 21 Source: Licensed from the Commonwealth of Australia under a Creative Commons Strategic initiatives and related activities . .. 23 Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the content of this publication. Goals, strategic initiatives and activities . 23 Contact officer Performance . 25 Inquiries about this document should be directed to: Manager Enterprise Governance Australian Federal Police GPO Box 401 Canberra ACT 2601 Email: [email protected] General inquiries Post: Written requests for general information can be sent to: Australian Federal Police GPO Box 401 Canberra ACT 2601 Telephone: General inquiries can be made by phoning the AFP’s national switchboard on (02) 5126 0000.
    [Show full text]
  • Working Restoratively: a Study of Youth Justice Professionals in Tasmania
    Working Restoratively: A Study of Youth Justice Professionals in Tasmania by Nicholas Andrew Thomas Bachelor of Arts (Sociology & Criminology), University of Tasmania Masters of Criminology and Corrections, University of Tasmania Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2017 School of Social Sciences University of Tasmania 1 Abstract The Youth Justice Act 1997 in Tasmania introduced the principles and practice of Restorative Justice with the aim of reducing youth crime. Since this time, Restorative Justice has influenced early intervention, resulting in a decrease in youth crime and detention rates. But, as recognised internationally and by previous research in Tasmania, this apparent success may conceal problems or limitations in how conferences are conducted. To explore these issues, this study interviewed 21 practitioners with occupational knowledge of how young offenders are managed through the diversionary system in Southern Tasmania. These interviewees complain that conferences individualise the problem of offending rather than addressing structural causes of crime such as poverty. The thesis provides a detailed account of their work and professional challenges. It also advances arguments for the value of qualitative research on the criminal justice process; and makes policy recommendations to establish multi- disciplinary teams and to increase the diversity of referral options. 2 Table of Contents Declaration of Originality…………………………………………………………………………………......1 Authority of Access………………………………………………………………………………………………1
    [Show full text]
  • A Picture of Bias Crime in New South Wales
    Cosmopolitan ARTICLE (PEER-REVIEWED) Civil Societies: an A Picture of Bias Crime in New South Wales Interdisciplinary Journal Gail Mason Sydney Law School, University of Sydney, Eastern Avenue, Camperdown Campus, The University Vol. 11, No. 1 of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia. [email protected] 2019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5130/ccs.v11.i1.6402 Article History: Received 20/12/18; Revised 18/02/19; Accepted 25/02/19; Published 28/03/2019 Abstract Bias Crime is crime where the victim is targeted because of an aspect of his or her identity, including race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. It is an extreme manifestation of cultural tension and confict. Bias crime remains under-researched in Australia. While there © 2019 by the author(s). This has been some investigation into diferent types of bias crime, such as racist and homophobic is an Open Access article ofences, there is little analysis of the nature and extent of bias crime across these categories. distributed under the terms For the frst time, this article presents the results of a study into ofcial records of bias crime of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International held by the New South Wales Police Force. Te study shows that crimes motivated by bias (CC BY 4.0) License (https:// based on the victim’s race/ethnicity and religion are by far the most common types of bias creativecommons.org/licenses/ crime reported in NSW. People from Asian, Indian/Pakistani and Muslim backgrounds are by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the the most likely victims to report bias crime.
    [Show full text]