Evaluation of the Victorian Community Crime Prevention Program: final report

This evaluation finds that the Community Crime Prevention Program is a highly valued contribution to the Victorian community crime prevention and community safety field. Abstract The Community Crime Prevention Program (CCPP), established by the Victorian Government, aims to enhance communities’ capacity to deliver local solutions to crime. It is part of a broader suite of initiatives to reduce the impact of criminal behaviour on Victorians. The Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) is a business unit within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to administer the CCPP. The mainstay of the CCPP is a competitive grants program available to a wide variety of community organisations and local government authorities. Bodies that comply with the qualifying criteria are able to apply for funding in the allocated funding rounds. DOJ commissioned the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) to conduct an evaluation of the Victorian CCPP. In order to assess the strategic appropriateness and efficacy of the CCPP the AIC, in consultation with the CCPU and the Regional Directors forum that operates across the DOJ, developed a program logic model and evaluation framework. This informed the development of a comprehensive methodology combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. This included: consultation with key stakeholders; online survey of local government and community organisations; review of CCPP-sponsored interventions; and analysis of administrative data and program documentation relating to the operation of the CCPP. The project was undertaken between February and September 2014

CCTV use by local government: findings from a national survey

This paper presents the findings from a national survey of local government to develop a national picture of the prevalence and characteristics of open-street CCTV systems in Australia managed by local councils. Introduction There has been considerable growth in the use of closed circuit television (CCTV) in public spaces as a crime prevention measure and, increasingly, as a tool to detect and identify offenders. In Australia, CCTV systems have become an increasingly common fixture in urban centres, in shopping centres and malls, individual shops and banks, on public transport and in car parks. There has been significant investment in CCTV systems as part of state, territory and Commonwealth government crime prevention programs, with CCTV accounting for a growing proportion of overall grant funding available to community-based organisations, particularly local councils. More than a decade ago, Wilson and Sutton explored the operation and management of 33 open-street CCTV systems in Australia. They found that, while open street CCTV systems were initially primarily located in central business districts of major metropolitan centres, there was a growing trend towards their installation in smaller regional and rural centres and in suburban locations. Around the same time, Iris Research conducted a survey of all local councils in Australia to assess the use of CCTV and characteristics of the systems in operation, finding that around one in ten councils had a CCTV system in operation. More recently, Carr examined the use of CCTV by 18 local councils funded by the Australian Government, finding that police were increasingly reliant on local government CCTV and that the ensuing additional cost to council was significant. Similarly, Edmonds found that nearly half of all councils in NSW (46%; n=70) had installed CCTV in public spaces, with urban councils more than twice as likely than rural councils to have a system in place. Given the continued investment in CCTV at all levels of government plus the significant advances in technology over the past ten years, it is timely to reassess the use of CCTV by local councils in Australia. This paper presents the findings from a national survey of local government. The overall aim of this research was to develop a national picture of the prevalence and characteristics of open-street CCTV systems in Australia managed by local councils

Historical review of sexual offence and child sexual abuse legislation in Australia: 1788–2013

Abstract: The report provides an overview of the socio-political factors and events that have influenced the development of Australia’s child sexual abuse legislation from 1788-2013. Key developments in relevant legislation during this period which are discussed in detail in the report include: the decriminalisation of homosexual acts between consenting males the removal of gendered language from legislation to enable the law to deal with matters involving male victims, female offenders and same sex offences broadening the definition of sexual intercourse introduction of specific legislation relating to child pornography introduction of mandatory reporting laws

Classifying Alternative Approaches for Simple Drug Possession: A Two-Level Taxonomy

Background: Increasing international attention is being given to alternative measures to criminalization for the possession of illicit drug. Such schemes are heterogeneous and a clear conceptual framework for their discussion and analysis is lacking. Aim: To present a conceptually informed, empirically based taxonomy for the classification of alternative measures to decriminalization for the possession of drugs. Methods: The research uses qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of existing alternative measures. It proceeds from analysis of existing distinctions between and classifications of alternative measures. It uses data from a realist review of alternative measures in nine countries (Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Jamaica, Netherland, Portugal, UK and USA) to derive three dimensions of comparison (whether they: are de jure or de facto; involve diversion to an educative, therapeutic of social service; involve the use of civil/administrative sanctions). A QCA truth table using data from twenty-six schemes in the nine countries is used to identify types in the taxonomy. The types are grouped - using pragmatic reduction informed by Boolean minimization across a smaller number of classes in order to create a two-level taxonomy. Results: The resulting taxonomy contains six types of alternative measures: depenalization; de facto diversion; de jure diversion; decriminalization with diversion and civil sanctions, decriminalization with civil sanctions; and decriminalization with no sanctions. The six types fall into three classes: depenalization; diversion; and decriminalization. It is possible to classify emerging alternatives into this new taxonomy. Conclusion: Conceptually informed empirical observation of cases enables the construction of a two-level taxonomy of alternative measures to criminalization for the simple possession of drugs. This may facilitate clearer and better-informed discussion of alternatives to criminalization for drug possession

Depenalization, diversion and decriminalization: A realist review and programme theory of alternatives to criminalization for simple drug possession

Alternatives to criminalization for the simple possession of illicit drugs are increasingly of interest to policy makers. But there is no existing theoretically based, empirically tested framework that can inform development and evaluation. This article presents a realist programme theory of such alternatives. It bases this on a realist review, which followed the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards (RAMESES). It describes the systematic process of searching the literature in English on nine relevant countries (Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Jamaica, Netherland, Portugal, the UK, the USA) for information on alternative measures in three categories: depenalization; diversion; and decriminalization. It shows how these measures – in theory and in practice – combine with pre-existing social conditions and institutional contexts to trigger mechanisms across three causal pathways (normative; criminal justice; and health and social services). It shows how some posited causal processes are more empirically supported than others. Alternative measures can reduce harms imposed by criminal justice processes without increasing drug use or related health and crime harms, but this depends on specific combinations of contexts, mechanisms and outcomes

The relationship between drug price and purity and population level harm.

In illicit drug markets, the price and purity of drugs change frequently. While it is well known that purity-adjusted price affects drug use, impacts on other outcomes are less clear. This rapid review examines the relationship between price, purity and seven population level measures of drug-related harm and any differences across three drug types. With a few exceptions, it found an inverse relationship between purity-adjusted price and drug-related harm, with higher purity-adjusted price associated with less drug-related harm, and lower purity-adjusted price associated with increased harm. This shows the value of price and purity data for predicting drug market impacts and the importance of improving price and purity data collection and analyses, particularly in Australia

The diversion and supply of pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical use

Consistent with international trends, in 2016 Australia experienced its highest number of drug-related deaths in 20 years, with most attributed to pharmaceutical opioids and benzodiazepines. A large international evidence-base exists on mechanisms, drivers and profitability of illicit drug supply, yet equivalent research examining pharmaceutical drugs is scarce. This thesis aimed to fill this gap by examining, through four empirical studies, the diversion and supply of pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical use.First, a systematic review and meta-analysis pooled results from 34 international studies to estimate the prevalence of medical and non-medical/intermediary sourcing and diversion. Most pharmaceuticals for non-medical use were sourced via friends/family (57%, 95% CI 53%-62%) and few studies examined supply beyond end-user perspectives. Addressing this gap, the role of health practitioners and suppliers in Australia was explored next. Diversion from the medical system was examined through 117 cases of health practitioner misconduct using AustLII records. Persistent over-prescribing by a small number of practitioners due to inadequate skills to manage complex patient groups was identified. The final two empirical chapters analysed data from semi-structured interviews with 51 people involved in supplying pharmaceutical drugs. Negative binomial regressions and thematic analysis explored drug sourcing and motivations. Suppliers used medical (47% legitimate, 7% illegitimate prescriptions) and intermediary sources (e.g. 18% friends/family) and were financially (65%) and/or altruistically (61%) motivated. Those using illegitimate medical sources distributed larger quantities, while altruistically motivated suppliers distributed smaller quantities (e.g. leftover supplies) to people with perceived therapeutic need. Mark-up calculations showed that for every dollar-invested, suppliers earned $3.19 (median) or$19.90 (mean). Mixed-effects regressions found mark-up was predicted by source, such that mark-up was higher for medically sourced drugs, compared with those sourced via intermediaries (median $13.49 cf.$1.23).This research holds implications for research, policy and practice. The supply chain for pharmaceutical diversion is shorter than for illicit drugs and supply mechanisms and motives are diverse, warranting multifaceted responses. For example: 1) prescription monitoring for the small number of high-volume suppliers, 2) broader education for social supply, 3) consideration of supplier motive at sentencing, 4) support for health practitioners, and 5) addressing demand factors in marginalised populations

Protection orders for domestic violence: A systematic review

Protection orders are a common legal response to domestic violence which aim to prevent further re-victimisation by the perpetrator. The current study systematically reviews research into the use and impact of protection orders, using the EMMIE framework (Effectiveness, Mechanisms, Moderators, Implementation and Economy). Meta-analysis is used to examine the overall effect of protection orders, while narrative synthesis is used to examine the underlying mechanisms and moderators of their effectiveness, their implementation and economic viability. Protection orders are associated with a small but significant reduction in domestic violence. They appear to be more effective under certain circumstances, including when the victim has fewer ties to the perpetrator and a greater capacity for independence, and less effective for offenders with a history of crime, violence and mental health issues