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This study presents the findings from a large survey of people living in Australia (n=9,987) who had used mobile dating apps and/or dating websites in the previous five years. Across the entire sample, 12.4 percent of respondents reported receiving requests to facilitate the sexual exploitation of their own children or children they had access to. Requests included asking for sexual information about children or for sexual images or videos of children, asking to meet children in person or asking for children to perform sex acts over webcam. The paper highlights the need for additional safety features to be embedded in mobile dating apps and dating websites to protect vulnerable users and to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focused deterrence approaches to domestic violence have been developed in the US to increase offender accountability and ensure appropriately targeted responses to victims. While innovative, the model has strong theoretical and empirical foundations. It is based on a set of fundamental principles and detailed analysis of domestic violence patterns and responses. This paper uses recent Australian research to explore the feasibility of adapting this model to an Australian context. Arguments in favour of the model, and possible barriers to implementation, are described. Based on an extensive body of Australian research on patterns of domestic violence offending and reoffending, and in light of recent developments in responses to domestic violence, this paper recommends trialling focused deterrence and 'pulling levers' to reduce domestic violence reoffending in an Australian pilot site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opioid epidemic in North America has attracted considerable international concern because of the scale of the problem and the high rate of overdose deaths. This paper explores the factors that have contributed to the opioid epidemic in the United States and Canada, and reviews the current situation in Australia. There is little evidence that Australia is on the same trajectory as the United States or Canada, or that fentanyl, particularly illicit fentanyl, has penetrated the Australian drug market as it has overseas. There is, however, evidence of an increase in harm associated with pharmaceutical opioids and heroin, despite a fall in heroin use. This paper highlights the importance of being vigilant about the potential for similar problems in Australia, and continuing to monitor key indicators of opioid availability, use and harm. Responses to opioid misuse and overdose must be relevant to the Australian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of prisoner-onprisoner homicides has dropped considerably since 1998 and remained consistently low over the last decade. Although not common, prisoner-onprisoner homicides generally receive considerable public attention. This paper builds on previous AIC research, analysing the circumstances and nature of homicides that occurred in correctional facilities across Australia between 1980 and 2011. The findings show prisoner-on-prisoner homicides typically involve non-Indigenous male prisoners between the ages of 20 and 34, with violent offenders more likely to be victims than those sentenced for other offences. The paper discusses effective strategies for managing violent offenders in prison. It also provides an overview of the preventive policies and procedures introduced by corrective services agencies that may have contributed to the decline in the number and rate of homicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary migrants play an important role in Australia's workforce and student population. Little is known, however, about the migration mechanisms temporary migrants use and the associated risks these may involve. This paper examines the role of migration brokers in alleged and finalised cases of migrant exploitation ranging from low pay and hazardous working conditions to more severe forms involving debt bondage, forced labour and other slavery-like practices. This paper presents a typology of two kinds of migration broker—the migration facilitator and the labour supplier—developed from these case studies. Points of intervention are discussed with reference to these types, as is the effectiveness of various responses to the actions of migration brokers in preventing and detecting human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices. These responses may overlap with responses to other serious crimes such as immigration fraud, corruption, extortion and people smuggling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we seek to review the rapid rise in remand in custody rates in Australia. In particular, and in response, we ask and discuss three specific questions: 1. To what extent do defendants applying for bail have vulnerabilities? 2. To what extent can risk analysis tools that seek to predict breach of bail terms be relied upon? 3. To what extent can the emerging pre-trial services programs in Australia reduce remand in custody populations?. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The administration of youth justice systems in Australia is a state and territory responsibility. Almost all states and territories have in recent years undertaken extensive reviews of their youth justice systems. In addition, various oversight bodies (such as ombudsmen, inspectors of custodial services, children's guardians and advocates), Commonwealth agencies (such as the Australian Law Reform Commission), and non-government organisations (such as Amnesty International) have also completed reviews and published reports in this area. The catalysts for some of these reviews were incidents in youth justice detention centres which captured national (and international) attention. A key theme arising from many of these reviews is the need for youth justice detention to be a measure of last resort. Detention, especially for young people who have been victims of abuse and neglect or who have mental illness and intellectual disabilities, is often detrimental and has little benefit in reducing recidivism. This paper explores this and other key themes arising from the recent reviews into Australian youth justice systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developments in information and communications technology (ICT) have changed how people in nations like Australia conduct their lives. Widespread access to the internet, use of social media and the capacity to manage vast amounts of information and to communicate instantly with people all across the world have fundamentally changed our personal and professional lives. While the use of ICT has increased exponentially for most Australians, those held in our prisons have not had the same access to this technology. The emerging use of ICT in prisons promises to transform the daily lived experience of prisoners. This paper explores some of the ways ICT is being implemented in Australian prisons and internationally, and considers the challenges, risks and benefits of bridging the 'digital divide'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual offending has a significant impact on victims and can cause considerable angst within the community. The effective management of sex offenders in the community is of paramount importance. This paper reviews the latest empirical evidence from Australia and overseas regarding the effectiveness of public and non-public sex offender registries. Results show that while public sex offender registries may have a small general deterrent effect on first time offenders, they do not reduce recidivism. Further, despite having strong public support, they appear to have little effect on levels of fear in the community. While the evidence is limited to a small number of US studies, non-public sex offender registries do appear to reduce reoffending by assisting law enforcement. The review concludes by highlighting important considerations to help inform future decisions about the feasibility of a public register in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speaking out in the public interest--being a whistleblower--can be risky. Media reports and public inquiries into allegations of misconduct in the public and private sectors regularly recount the negative consequences that those who make reports in the public interest have experienced--despite the presence of legislation that seeks to prevent reprisals and retaliation for disclosing misconduct. Instances in which whistleblowers have lost employment and careers, suffered harassment and intimidation, and experienced threats or acts of violence continue to occur in Australia. This study sought to understand the nature of victimisation experienced by whistleblowers who had reported or attempted to report wrongdoing in their workplace. Information was obtained from in-depth interviews with 36 whistleblowers and 21 people who dealt with their reports in public and private sector organisations. The results confirm the nature of the harms that almost all whistleblowers experience as a consequence of reporting misconduct. The paper concludes by identifying ways in which whistleblowers could better be protected from victimisation and how the procedures and safeguards involved in the whistleblowing process could be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on key aspects of welfare fraud in Australia. It begins by outlining the basic aims of welfare systems that provide direct economic support, the vulnerability of these systems to fraud and issues around culpability and appropriate responses to suspected fraud. The paper also describes problems experienced when attempting to measure fraud and provides an analysis of available data about the size and dimensions of the problem, including case studies of major frauds. Overall, demonstrable fraud represents a very small fraction of all welfare transactions, but it also represents significant losses, demand for prosecution and loss recovery action. Overall, there is a need for greater consensus on the best ways to prevent fraud and deal with offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines anti-fraud measures currently operating in Australia's welfare system, administered by the government agency, Centre link. Using official data, an examination is made of the operations and rationales of different strategies and their impacts, including estimated savings. The paper covers nine strategies, including data- matching, public tip-offs, media campaigns, stepped-up investigations and recovery action. The findings indicate that Centre link has adopted international best practice measures to combat fraud and appears to be particularly successful at detecting and stopping fraud. At the same time, the main challenge appears to lie in the area of finding and demonstrating more effective primary prevention measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the causes of wrongful imprisonment, the nature of losses and the applicability of international approaches and conventions. Definitions of wrongful conviction vary internationally, as do the circumstances and amount of compensation. Australian states and territories can make discretionary ex gratia payments, although determination of compensation amounts is unclear. Compensation levels for wrongful conviction in Australia are not as generous as tortious claims. The current system of ex gratia payments that exists in all Australian jurisdictions (other than the Australian Capital Territory) is arbitrary. The introduction of dedicated legislation or specific guidelines for wrongful conviction would help bring these Australian jurisdictions into line with international human rights best practice. This paper considers the scope of claims made in Australia through some key case studies. However, there is currently no reliable national data on the prevalence of wrongful convictions in Australia; overseas research suggests wrongful convictions may be less rare than we assume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bushfire arson is an important issue in Australia, but studies analysing its prevalence and distribution are sparse and have focused on isolated areas or specific data collections. This paper summarises key findings of the Australian Institute of Criminology's extensive analysis of vegetation fires attended by Australian fire agencies, and represents the first attempt to quantify the extent of deliberately lit fires in Australia, focusing on when and where deliberate fires occur, and how their distribution varies as a function of natural and human factors. The study identifies the need for improved collection and integration of key data to inform both policy and practice. Despite the limitations of the empirical data, important implications for the management of fire and the prevention of ignitions are discussed. The paper notes the need to examine management practices along the urban interface including strategies to build community cohesion in rapidly growing population centres in these interfaces. It also highlights the need to develop ongoing resourced arson reduction strategies that effectively target broad sections of the community, while maintaining strategies that target specific offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Australian Government has committed significant resources to combating trafficking in persons. Within this larger anti-trafficking effort, the community sector, law enforcement, prosecutors, health professionals and members of the community all have an important role to play. As each sector comes to terms with the reality of trafficking in Australia, it is important that emerging challenges and possible solutions are identified. This paper focuses on the challenges that may confront law enforcement officials in any country in their efforts to detect trafficking, identify victims, investigate offences and contribute to the successful prosecution of offenders. Drawing on international experience, this paper identifies some examples of emerging good practice that can help to overcome these challenges, and contribute to the effectiveness of the larger criminal justice response to trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on earlier research undertaken at the Australian Institute of Criminology (Pinto & Wilson 1990), the current research explores the serial murder phenomenon in Australia using data collected as part of the Institute's National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP). Results show that between July 1989 and June 2006, there were 11 groupings of serial murders identified in the NHMP, committed by 13 known serial murder offenders, with a total of 52 known victims. This represents one percent of the total number of homicides in Australia over a 17 year period. The paper reports on the characteristics of offenders and victims, including the offenders' modus operandi. The analysis found that the profile of serial murder in Australia is similar to that found in international research. In at least two of the groups of serial murders the victims had been reported as missing to police. It is important to note that the paper reports on known homicides. The paper suggests that further research on the profile of long term missing persons and serial murder victims should be undertaken as well as exploring offenders who commit multiple murders on separate occasions, to identify what prevented them (apart from law enforcement intervention) from committing additional murders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We know that for some crimes, like human trafficking, it is difficult to secure prosecutions. It is also the case that these kind of crimes are difficult to detect. Human trafficking presents different challenges from domestic crimes, like sexual assault, because of its often transnational nature and the potential involvement of a network of facilitators in a number of countries. Extreme caution should be exercised in extrapolating from the under-reporting of domestic crimes to transnational crimes, as Australia enjoys the natural protection provided by being both an island and geographically remote and has extensive border protection mechanisms. This paper argues that we need to be aware of trends, internationally and in the region, to ensure we have early warning of activities that could impact on the level and type of trafficking to Australia, and to ensure we are providing the most effective responses to prevent and detect trafficking. This paper provides an overview of the challenges involved in obtaining reliable information on the trafficking process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program, this paper explores involvement in intimate partner violence, and provides first-time results from face-to-face interviews with a group of 1,597 police detainees. The study found that the levels of intimate partner violence are much higher among this group (49%) than is found from general population surveys. More than two-thirds of the detainees who were involved in partner violence reported being both a victim and a perpetrator in the past 12 months. This is consistent with other criminological research that finds that a large proportion of offenders often report having been victims of crime. Factors found to be significant risk markers for detainees' involvement in partner violence included prior arrest, drug and alcohol dependency, having dependent children, and experiencing physical abuse as a child. Although a greater percentage of female than male detainees reported being involved in partner violence, once these other risk factors were controlled for, gender was not found to be a significant risk marker among this sample. The paper discusses the policy implications of the findings, particularly the need for early intervention with at-risk families and where drug and alcohol dependency issues are emerging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reasons individual offenders engage in criminal activity are numerous and varied. Three key priority areas have emerged in recent years -- reducing crime related to drug dependency and mental health, reducing the over-representation of Indigenous offenders and reducing the incidence of domestic violence. Policy-makers and criminal justice practitioners have recently responded with the development of specialty courts designed to tackle specific problem behaviour and associated issues. This paper examines the history and development of the specialty court concept in Australia. It shows that the programs, although having the same overall aim of reducing reoffending, have significantly different structures as they attempt to deal with very different problems. This paper also reviews the key evaluations of specialty court programs conducted to date. If we are to understand what works and what doesn't, long-term assessment and evaluations are required of all specialty courts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2005, there were 5.5 million visitor arrivals to Australia, a five percent increase over the previous year (Tourism Australia 2006). Despite some media headlines labelling Australia as an unsafe place to visit, this paper provides factual information indicating that the risk of homicide victimisation faced by tourists who visit Australia is extremely low. Between 1994 and 2003, the murder rate of tourists was 0.9 per million short-term visitors to Australia. In the most recent year for which data are available there were only two tourists murdered. Those most likely to be victims of homicide are young males, which reflects the general profile of homicides in Australia more broadly. This paper focuses on the most serious of violent crimes -- homicide -- and although it demonstrates that the risk of victimisation is extremely low for visitors to Australia, further work on other violent crimes such as assault and robbery would be informative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2003, 1,821 males and 5,669 females aged under 15 years were recorded by police as victims of sexual assault but we know from crime victim surveys that sexual assault is the crime least likely to be reported to the police. We also know from research that adult sex offenders and victims are significantly more likely to have suffered abuse as children. A significant proportion of this abuse occurs within the family by intra-familial offenders. Interventions that will protect the victim but also break the cycle of reoffending will have a significant positive impact on families. However, there is some research that suggests particular interventions may make matters worse. This paper focuses on the issue of removing the intra-familial adolescent sex offender from the family home and describes an alternative model to relocation being used in Western Australia. As the paper reports there has been little rigorous evaluation of all types of interventions to determine what works best and under what circumstances. To reaffirm the authors' conclusion, 'urgent evaluation of the efficacy and effectiveness of both community-based and residential treatment programmes for young offenders should be a priority'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most intractable crime problems that has arisen in the twenty-first century concerns the criminal misuse of identity - popularly known as identity fraud or identity theft. Computer technologies have enabled documents used to verify an individual's identity to be altered or counterfeited with ease, leading to a problem which, in 2001-02, was estimated to cost $1.1 billion in Australia alone (Cuganesan & Lacey 2003). The higher education sector is not immune from risks of identity-related fraud and other kinds of dishonest practices, and, as this paper demonstrates, risks are present throughout the sector - from enrolment of students, through the examination process, upon qualification, and during subsequent employment. Reducing the risks associated with identification of students and staff alike entails the employment of a wide range of strategies that need to be implemented uniformly across the entire sector. This paper analyses the nature of the problem and how government, business and individuals can share in the task of preventing identity thieves from enrolling and graduating dishonestly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few well designed evaluations have found strong support for neighbourhood watch (NW) schemes; in fact there have been no formal, published, peer reviewed evaluations of NW in Australia. This paper argues for a change in focus in what is examined to determine success. Overseas evaluations suggest such schemes are ineffective because they looked at whether NW prevented and reduced the fear of crime, and improved information flows between the community and the police. The author proposes that a better way to assess the efficacy of NW is to view it as a vehicle to enhance partnerships between police, other agencies and the community and that these partnerships can effectively improve police/community relations, improve perceptions of safety and security and enhance community involvement in wider crime prevention initiatives. Such a change in focus is consistent with the emergence of 'reassurance policing' that targets street crime and disorder and has been a key component of recent reforms in the UK police force. This paper challenges practitioners, policy makers and communities involved with NW schemes to rethink the outcomes they are seeking to achieve and provides a rationale for community police partnerships that have the potential to improve feelings of safety and security in local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School suspension--the temporary removal of a student from school--is one of the most severe responses to student misbehaviour in Australian schools. Evidence suggests school suspension is associated with negative behavioural outcomes in adolescence. Using data from the International Youth Development Study, a large longitudinal study of adolescent development, this research found positive associations between school suspension and adolescent problem behaviour. These associations remained after taking into account other known risk factors for such behaviours. The paper discusses the implications for policy development around the management of student misbehaviour and conduct breaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Federation, Australia has not been immune to violent extremism, although the scale of such violence is less evident than in many countries throughout the world. While such acts of violence within Australia have been intermittent, around 150 have occurred since World War II, though most have not been successful. Further, Australian nationals have also died overseas, such as during the 9/11 attacks in New York and the bombing of the Sari Club in Bali in 2002. These incidents have sensitised the public to extremism. Currently, the nation is responding to a heightened risk of violent extremism. It is therefore timely to describe the nature of violent extremism that has manifested in Australia - ethnonationalist, political and most recently, jihadist. This paper examines the nature of extremist violence that has impacted on Australia, and highlights changes in the risk and the nature of violent extremism over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nexus between drug use and crime is well established. Offenders are considerably more likely to use illicit drugs than the general population, and a large proportion of offenders attribute their criminal offending to drug use, yet very little is known about how to respond effectively to drug problems among police detainees. Using data obtained through the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program, this paper explores the readiness to change drug use and help-seeking intentions of Australian police detainees with drug problems. The analysis revealed those detainees most in need of drug treatment were also those most ready to change their drug use. The findings serve as a reminder of the need and desire for interventions for drug abuse among the police detainee population, and have implications for the development of intervention strategies aimed at reducing drug use among offender populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing use of cloud services in the community means electronic evidence is moving beyond the physical jurisdiction of Australian law enforcement agencies. This paper looks at the legal and technical issues inherent in collecting electronic evidence from online and cloud services and the decline in use of stored passwords for apps in favour of authentication tokens. The most prevalent authentication token system, OAuth, is described and the utility of these tokens to forensic practitioners is discussed. The legal and technical aspects are considered, with a view to enhancing the capability of law enforcement and practitioners in an increasingly complex legislative and technical environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of the internet is transforming how we engage and communicate. It also creates new opportunities for fraud and data theft. One way cybercriminals exploit the vulnerabilities of new technologies and potential victims is the use of deceptive emails on a massive scale. In a sample of more than 13 million emails identified as spam, more than 100,000 contained malicious attachments; nearly 1.4 million contained malicious web links. If opened, these attachments and links could infect the recipients' devices with software that allows cybercriminals to remotely access them. This paper describes how crime groups increasingly adopt novel approaches to cybercrime. Increased law enforcement capacity, the cultivation of high-level coordination between industry, government and police, and the further development of machine learning techniques should be at the forefront of government initiatives in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methamphetamine use among Australian police detainees is rising; the impact of this rise on crime trends, and particularly on trends in acquisitive crime, is yet to be established. Identifying trends in and motivations for offending among methamphetamine users may assist law enforcement and policymakers to better target resources. This paper examines the engagement in acquisitive crime, and perceived motivations for methamphetaminedriven crime, of a sample of Australian police detainees recruited in 2013 through the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia program. Methamphetamine users reported deriving a significantly higher proportion of their income from crime than non-users. Logistic regression analysis reveals the use of methamphetamine, heroin and/or cannabis predicts engagement in acquisitive crime when other drug use and polydrug use is controlled for. In addition, methamphetamine users reported their use played a contributing role in their offending, most commonly through intoxication or the need for money to purchase drugs. The findings indicate recent methamphetamine use increases the risk of engagement in acquisitive offences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a paper regarding the assumption that organized criminal groups are actively involved in human trafficking. It looks at the research by Australia and other countries on the role of organized criminal groups in trafficking for labor-related exploitation. It also elaborates on the role of United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC) in providing a legal framework for combating transnational organized crime and the its definition of transnational organized crime. It also discusses the role of intermediaries and facilitators in human trafficking.

This paper summarises the results of a small-scale study into the online interactions of suspected paedophiles with undercover Australian police officers posing as male children. The study provides insight to an under researched area of how persons with a sexual interest in male children interact with potential victims and whether these interactions differ from online engagements with female children. The findings provide an interesting and persuasive case to further examine online strategies used by persons wishing to exploit male children, as it highlights potential differences in approaches when compared with interactions between suspected offenders and female children. The differences include less aggressive online behaviour and language, with an emphasis on the male child's sexuality and sexual experience. These strategies appear to assist the formation of an online friendship which precedes sexual topics, rather than the reverse as is largely reported in literature. These findings are likely to have implications for law enforcement and child protection initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in prison has long been one of the major challenges facing the criminal justice system. To date, there has been no national study of the extent to which Indigenous people reoffend and are returned to prison. Using data from all Australian jurisdictions, and covering 8,938 males incarcerated for violent offences and released from prison over a two-year period, this paper clearly shows that Indigenous offenders are readmitted to prison sooner and more frequently than non-Indigenous offenders. Analysis shows that Indigenous prisoners are nearly twice as likely to have been readmitted to prison within two years and more than twice as likely to return to prison for assault. Half of the Indigenous prisoners remained in prison until the expiry of their sentence, which makes post-release support particularly challenging. A key theme that emerged from stakeholder consultations was the need to improve support during transition back into the community through the involvement of family and community, and increased capacity to undertake throughcare, especially in remote settings. While there is a range of Indigenous-specific initiatives and programs in prisons and in the community, including those that target violent offending and substance abuse, an ongoing need is to increase participation in mainstream services and to include Indigenous cultural specificity without negatively impacting on program integrity, and to evaluate the outcomes of reform over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been increasing concern about the prevalence of drug driving in Australia. Over the past four years, the majority of Australian states have introduced legislation that makes it an offence to drive with the presence of a range of drugs in the blood or saliva. Using data from the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program, this paper examines the prevalence of drug driving among a sample of police detainees in key sites in 2005 and 2006. The study found that two-thirds of detainees had driven after using drugs and/or alcohol in the previous 12 months, which is significantly higher than the incidence of drug driving in the general population. Approximately three-quarters of detainees who had been involved as a driver in a high-speed police pursuit reported being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the pursuit. Consistent with past research, detainees were most likely to perceive that cannabis and methylamphetamine did not have a negative effect on their driving ability. These findings suggest the need for continued monitoring of the prevalence of drug and/or alcohol driving and perceptions of the impact on driving ability of different drugs (including alcohol), as well as perceived risks of detection given recent legislative changes that enable random drug testing of drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating missing persons cases is a complex field. There is no single service responsible for the investigation or the provision of support to those who are found, or to the family and friends of missing persons. However, police services across Australia play a crucial role in responding to reports of missing people, complemented by non-government search agencies such as The Salvation Army and the Australian Red Cross. Since national research on missing persons was conducted 10 years ago, there have been a range of initiatives to improve the response to reports of missing people, particularly in the promotion of a national approach. However, police data suggest there may be more people going missing than ever before, but until there are better data this cannot be clarified with any confidence. Nor can we properly identify risk factors amongst different groups of missing persons. The potential role of the non-government sector to assist searches and prevent people from going missing seems unfulfilled, largely due to poor levels of awareness and lack of resources. This paper identifies key priorities for further development to improve practices related to reducing the incidence of missing persons and the provision of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carjacking literature is limited, and perceptions vary about the level of violence involved, diverse scenarios and the motivations of offenders. The media tends to overrepresent carjackings involving weapons and violence, although these are relatively rare incidents. Motivations range from instrumental triggers (where the car is used in some other crime) to acquisition for onselling the car or its parts. Similarly, methods vary from opportunistic to organised theft involving support. This paper examines carjacking in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa reported through the literature. Victimisation surveys currently may be the most appropriate source for collecting carjacking estimates. Offence definitions and recording practices vary between Australian jurisdictions, making accurate estimates problematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a global effort to fight mass-marketed consumer scams, each year consumer protection agencies in 33 western countries participate in a month of fraud prevention activities to raise awareness of the problem and to provide advice to consumers on how to avoid being victimised. In Australia and New Zealand, 19 government agencies comprise the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT), which conducted a campaign in March 2007 with the theme 'Scams target you - protect yourself'. This paper describes the activities undertaken by the ACFT and assesses the impact that the publicity had on official reporting of scams by consumers. The results of an online survey of 841 self-selected respondents are also presented. It is concluded that the campaign was highly effective in raising consumer awareness, with reporting rates increasing substantially throughout the period of the campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsonists and bushfire arsonists cause a considerable amount of damage to property, flora and fauna, endanger lives, and tie up the resources of the fire services. However, little research has been done on these offenders in Australia. This paper reports on data obtained on 1,232 arson defendants (133 of whom were known to be appearing for a bushfire arson offence), who appeared before NSW courts between 2001 and 2006. The defendants were mostly male and non-Indigenous, and almost one-quarter were under 18, although there were few differences between juveniles and adults. Two-thirds of the defendants were found guilty, 42 percent of whom received a custodial sentence, with an average sentence of 11 months. Very few were found to have a previous record for firesetting, although over half of arsonists and over two-thirds of bushfire arsonists had a previous conviction for some other offence in the previous seven years. This diversity in known offending highlights the need for treatment programs that focus not just on fire setting but wider behavioural issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about sexual violence against women from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds is scant. Anecdotally, levels of sexual violence are purported to be high, but national victimisation surveys may not capture, or may misrepresent, the extent of sexual violence in these communities. While many of the reasons for not reporting sexual violence to police are likely to be similar to those for mainstream women, women from diverse backgrounds can face additional cultural and related factors affecting their ability and/or willingness to report violence. This paper reports on findings from a multi-dimensional study investigating these issues. Participants indicated the need for appropriate interpreters when reporting sexual violence, a preference for female police officers to handle the case, protection of complainants, and more effective dissemination of information on how the criminal justice system processes sexual assault cases. There is a clear need to address fundamental attitudes and beliefs within particular communities about sexual violence and this will require strong community leadership and the support of local community members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates self-reported prevalence, patterns and potential harms of benzodiazepine use in a sample of adult police detainees, using data from the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program for the period 1999 to 2005. Of the sample, 15 percent had used illegal benzodiazepines in the previous 12 months, and around 13 percent had used prescribed benzodiazepines in the previous fortnight. The extent of self-reported benzodiazepine dependence was much lower than that for heroin, and similar to that for amphetamines. There is evidence of use of benzodiazepines in conjunction with other drugs, particularly heroin and amphetamines, which indicates a greater risk of harms, notably heroin overdose. Although these are preliminary findings only, they point to the value of further analysis to reveal more complex patterns of behaviour and use. For the relatively small number of people in contact with the criminal justice system whose only illegal drug use is of benzodiazepines, the results suggest the need to ensure that they have access to the treatment and other interventions available to the much larger group who use and are dependent on multiple drugs, notably heroin and amphetamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a global effort to fight mass-marketed consumer frauds and scams, consumer protection agencies in a number of western countries participate in a month of fraud prevention activities each year to raise awareness of the problem and provide advice to consumers on how to avoid being victimised. An initiative of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network in 2000, the campaign is joined by more countries each year, and in March 2006 some 33 countries participated. In Australia and New Zealand, 18 government agencies comprise the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT), established in March 2005 to support the network's activities. The key message to consumers in 2006 was 'when a scam comes calling -- delete it, hang up, destroy it'. This emphasised the fact that consumers are their own best defence against scams, and should always err on the side of caution when conducting business transactions. This paper presents the results of a pilot study undertaken during March 2006 in which consumers who contacted the Infoline at www.scamwatch.gov.au, agreed to provide information on their experiences of consumer fraud over the preceding year. To date there has been limited statistical data to inform the development of policy in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been considerable media coverage recently of inhalant misuse by Indigenous young people in remote Australia. However, this misuse must be understood within a wider context of other drug use. Funded by the National Law Enforcement Research Fund and initiated by police concerned about illicit drug use, the study summarised in this paper has highlighted widespread and often heavy use of cannabis and increasing signs of amphetamine use by Indigenous people in rural and remote communities. While alcohol abuse remains a primary concern, illicit drug use is also impacting on individuals and communities, with quite distinct problems clearly identified in isolated settlements. There are particular challenges for police involved in preventing the supply of drugs and helping communities reduce drug related harms. There is also a demonstrable need for more drug specific services, especially diversion and treatment programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program is a crime monitoring program that focuses on illegal drug use amongst police detainees. It involves the collection of self-report and urinalysis data from people detained in police watchhouses, and the timely output of this data to police, policy-makers, criminal justice practitioners and other professionals every threemonths. The scale of the program enables the collection of a large quantity of information, and its strong foundation of state-based teams (some of whom have spent over sevenyears working on the program) and the use of urinalysis ensures the quality of the data collected. This paper summarises the annual data and provides information about drug use and its link to crime. Trend data on those testing positive across all sites indicate that use of heroin has largely remained stable while codeine has increased; MDMA has increased while methylamphetamine has remained stable, and cannabis has declined, although it still remains the most commonly used drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To make Australia a safer place to live, legislative reforms have been introduced that seek to restrict the number of weapons in the community. Reforms have centred on knives carried in public places, and on firearm ownership and possession. The focus on knives is of particular importance, as they are commonly used weapons. For example, knives and sharp instruments were used in 32 percent of homicides in 2003--04 (Mouzos 2005). Knives were involved in 28 percent of assaults and 52 percent of armed robberies in 2003 (ABS 2004). Using data collected as part of the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program, this paper explores the link between weapons, drugs and crime, with a specific focus on weapon ownership and possession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The criminal justice system is a complex process involving police, courts and corrections. Historically these component parts have tended to act autonomously yet their actions impact on each other. Increasingly criminal justice policy-makers have come to recognise the need to understand the long term impacts of policy changes across the whole system. To effectively and efficiently manage the criminal justice system, policy-makers require analytical tools to project the relative effects of changes to policies based on current system information. Simulation models potentially offer a mechanism for assessing the short and long term effects of policies. This paper describes the development of the Queensland Juvenile Justice Simulation Model (QJJSM), which is currently being used in the Queensland juvenile justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funded through the National Illicit Drug Strategy, the AIC has undertaken a major study into the drug use and offending careers of Australian prisoners. The results from surveys of adult males and females highlight the diversity and complexity of the offending and drug use histories of incarcerated adult offenders. This paper extends the Drug Use Careers of Offenders study (DUCO) and presents the key findings of the final component of the study - a survey conducted in Australia with young people incarcerated in juvenile detention centres. The study confirms that these young people have extensive offending and drug use histories, both in terms of violent and property crime, and regularly use alcohol, cannabis and, to a lesser extent, amphetamines. The majority of young people started drug use and offending at an early age, with drug use beginning before or around the same time as offending. As Australia's most chronic or serious young offenders are likely to be in detention centres, it is not surprising that many of the detainees had troubled home backgrounds and poor school results. The study indicates the need to target risk factors such as abuse, neglect and family drug use earlier in a child's life, as well as to have effective programs that address issues such as drug use, housing needs, skills development, individual and family support for chronic young offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the issues surroundings art crime including the theft and forgery of photographs, sculptures, works in glass, ceramics, antiquities, works in paper, and paintings which is the concern in Australia, and its prevention. It states that criminals have found art to be an increasingly useful avenue for profit making, by engaging in theft, forgery and money laundering. It mentions that forgery impresses a lack of confidence in investors and, when publicized, can lower the sale of the particular artist or school that is subject to the forgeries. It notes that because of the specialized nature of the work and the particular knowledge of art required by police who work in the field, there are challenges confronted for law enforcement.

The article presents a paper which discusses the issue of cyberstalking as a crime which is amenable to and resistant of traditional legislation depending on the exploitation of the Internet in Australia. The crime serves as the potential of the Internet to facilitate crimes and point to the available interventions and their effectivity. It involves different approaches such as legislative interventions, personal prevention strategies, and technological solutions to technological flaws. It provides an example of cyber crime which can be regulated and responded to by the criminal justice system.

The article presents a paper offering data on knives and armed robbery in Australia. It puts emphasis on the strong presence of knives in the nation. Data show the low firearm usage in armed robbery indicating the effectiveness of justice system's response to crime in the nation. It finds out that there are different types of armed robbery engaged in different for different reasons. It notes the increase of armed robbery increased the use of weapons. This is attributed to the complex nature of firearm availability-intent connection.

The article presents a paper which examines a print media reporting on drugs and crime in Australia from January 1995-December 1998. It puts emphasis on the covered drug type by the media, the sources used, and the connection in media reporting between drugs and non-drug criminality. It provides suggestions on how media stakeholders and professionals can work for improvement of drug and crime reporting. These include the establishment of guidelines so that drugs and crime are reported based on public interest.

The article presents a paper which provides view on the demographic composition of the prison population and its changes between 1988 and 1998 in Australia. Data show the stability of gender composition and increase of prison population in the median age during this period. It notes that three-quarters of the prisoners have different structure of offences, though they were born in the country. The results indicate that there are shifts in the duration, length, and intensity of criminal careers and that prisoners spend longer periods under detention despite the decrease in sentence length.