People trafficking in Australia

The clandestine nature of trafficking in persons means that there is little reliable data about the nature and extent of the crime; however, a picture is emerging of the nature of people trafficking as the number of prosecutions grows. Few of the cases identified in Australia to date fit the traditional stereotypes of the forced movement and confinement of trafficked persons by traffickers. This paper summarises what is currently known about the nature of people trafficking in Australia. It includes an examination of how the reality of people trafficking compares with community perceptions of the crime. The authors note the need to establish reliable data-driven monitoring systems to better assess the nature and extent of trafficking into Australia, and the need to educate the Australian community to improve their understanding, given the important role they play in identifying and supporting trafficking victims

Restorative justice in the Australian criminal justice system

Abstract: In 2001, Heather Strang prepared a report for the Criminology Research Council summarising restorative justice programs in Australia. Since that time, restorative justice practices have become mainstream in Australian juvenile justice and have been extended for use with adult offenders. The question, ‘does it work?’ is asked of all interventions in the criminal justice field and is most often answered by assessing the impact on reoffending. On this point, the evidence for restorative justice remains mixed. However, the literature is replete with reports of high levels of victim satisfaction and feelings that the process is fair. Further, while some significant issues remain, research conducted to date consistently demonstrates that restorative justice programs work at least as well as formal criminal justice responses. The purpose of this report is twofold; to describe and provide an overview of restorative justice programs in Australia in order to build on Heather Strang’s 2001 review and provide an assessment of current and future issues facing restorative justice practice

Deaths in custody in Australia: National Deaths in Custody Program annual report 2006

As well as reporting on longer terms trends in deaths in custody, the report presents information on the 31 deaths in prison and 22 deaths in police custody and custody-related operations that occurred in 2006. There is a separate section on motor vehicle pursuit and police shooting deaths

Trafficking in persons monitoring report: January 2009–June 2011

Since 2008, the Australian Government has increased the tempo on investigating and understanding these crimes, and the Australian Institute of Criminology’s research and monitoring program is part of this effort.  The Government has introduced new legislation to crack down on trafficking slavery and servile marriages. Human trafficking is a serious but underreported problem as victims are unwilling to come forward. Since 2004 only 14 people have been convicted of people trafficking-related offences (nine of the 14 defendants were convicted of slavery offences, three of sexual servitude, one of people trafficking and one of labour exploitation). Between January 2009 and June 2011 there were 73 police investigations in Australia and 145 trafficked people entering the government’s victim support program—slightly more than in the previous period. Victims continue to be overwhelmingly from south-east Asia, one-third from Thailand alone. Authored by Jacqueline Joudo Larsen, Lauren Renshaw, Samantha Gray-Barry, Hannah Andrevski, and Toby Corsbie

Fuel for growth and development

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115971/1/sign854.pd

Deaths in custody in Australia 1990-2004

Jacqueline Joudo summarises the annual report from the National Deaths in Custody Program, and shows trends in prison and police custody and in police operations. Most deaths now occur in prison, from natural causes, but there is also an increasing trend of deaths during police operations. Figures comparing Indigenous and non-Indigenous deaths are presented

Migration and people trafficking in southeast Asia

By examining the characteristics of migration in southeast Asia, this paper explores the ways in which people trafficking occurs within this process and the implications for Australia\u27s anti-trafficking response nationally and regionally. Although the number of identified cases of trafficking into Australia is relatively low, the hidden nature of this crime and reluctance of trafficked persons to report to authorities suggests that a number of cases may go unidentified and the problem may be more extensive than available data indicates. Much can be learned about the risks of exploitation, including trafficking, from an overview of undocumented movement throughout the region. The risk of people being trafficked to Australia is largely mitigated by well-protected borders and economic opportunities in more accessible regions. However, management of the risks of trafficking in the southeast Asian region is connected to strategies that aim to prevent trafficking at source countries and to the activities of Australians and Australian entities in those countries. Characteristics of migration in southeast Asia—such as the role of informal networks in facilitating movement and the exploitation of migrants for non-sex work as well as sex work—hold important implications for Australia\u27s response to people trafficking. People trafficking occurs within the context of high levels of people movement (particularly undocumented), which are primarily driven by the desire for greater economic opportunity and a better quality of life. Southeast Asia is known to be a significant source of trafficked persons and intra-regional trafficking is high. However, the Asian region is also a primary source for persons who are trafficked around the world, with Australia among the target destinations. The southeast Asian region has seen a high level of predominantly intra-regional migration since the 1980s (Kaur 2007). These high levels of people movement have been driven by various socioeconomic and political push and pull factors operating throughout the region (IOM 2008). This paper examines the characteristics of migration in southeast Asia, the ways in which people trafficking occurs within this process and the implications for Australia\u27s anti-trafficking response nationally and regionally. It is based on a literature review, along with information from interviews conducted with prosecutors, law enforcement officers, policy officers and representatives of non-government and international organisations in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia

Deaths in custody in Australia: National deaths in custody program 2007

The overall number of recorded deaths, and the rate per relevant population, has declined significantly in prisons since 1997. However, there has been no statistically significant change in the overall number of police custody deaths since 1990. The overall trend masks the long-term decline in Category 1 police custody deaths. Category 2 deaths (which include pursuits and police shootings) increased until 2002 and then began to decline. The National Deaths in Custody Program (NDICP) is responsible for monitoring the extent and nature of deaths that have occurred in prison, police and juvenile custody since 1980. The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has coordinated the NDICP since its establishment in 1992; the result of a recommendation made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) the previous year. The program is unique. No other country has consistently collected similar data over such a long period of time

The impact of pre-recorded video and closed circuit television testimony by adult sexual assault complainants on jury decision-making: an experimental study

A mock sexual assault jury trial research project investigated whether the impact of adult sexual assault complainant testimony on juror perceptions and decisions differed if presented via CCTV, pre-recorded videotape or face-to-face in the courtroom. Natalie Taylor and Jacqueline Joudo also investigated the impact of emotional versus neutral testimony. Eighteen mock trials were held in a mock courtroom in which 210 members of the public participated as jurors. The report outlines the methodology used, the key findings, issues arising from juror feedback and the difficulties encountered by jurors in trying to reach unanimous verdicts