CrimNet

14 September 2023

Criminalising Children: Should we raise the age of criminal responsibility?

19 September 2023, 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM AEST

Venue:  Law Foyer, Level 2, New Law Building (F10)

Recently, the Northern Territory became the first Australian jurisdiction to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years. In New South Wales, and other Australian jurisdictions, the minimum age remains 10, which is one of the lowest minimum ages of criminal responsibility in the world. That is, while a child under the age of 10 cannot be convicted of a criminal offence, and while a child aged between 10 and 14 is likewise presumed to be doli incapax, this presumption can be rebutted by the prosecution on the evidence.

But is the age of 10 too young to criminalise any child? What harms accrue to incarcerated children?

Given the significant momentum for raising the age of criminal responsibility following the Northern Territory’s decision, this panel will examine whether other Australian jurisdictions should do the same ­– or raise the age even higher. 

Symposium: The Folbigg Case (So Far): Issues and Implications 

Date & Time: Thursday 5 October, 9:30am - 6:30pm AEDT

Venue: UNSW CBD Campus (Level 6/1 O'Connell Street, Sydney, NSW)

Following the recent release and pardon of Kathleen Folbigg, the UNSW Faculty of Law and Justice and the University of Sydney Law School are jointly hosting a day-long symposium focused on Ms Folbigg’s wrongful conviction and its socio-legal implications.

Join us for a series of critical presentations and discussions on the case and its wider implications, including hearing from key participants and representatives of Ms Folbigg. Discussions will range across the role and responsibility of the legal profession, law and gender, the use of probabilistic (i.e. tendency and coincidence) reasoning, reliance on diaries as admissions, our system of criminal appeals, the politicised process of additional appeals and public inquiries, media representations, relations between law, science and medicine, and the prospect of a criminal cases commission.

Attendees can register for the full program or just for the final panel session, held from 5:15-6:30pm: The Folbigg Case: Implications for Wrongful Convictions and Legal Reform. Please note: If you register for the full program, you do not need to register separately for this session.

Speakers include:

Professor Emma Cunliffe (University of British Columbia, Vancouver)

Tracy Chapman, Criminal Justice Advocate (Justice for Kathleen Folbigg)

Professor John Anderson (University of Newcastle)

Professor Stephen Cordner (Monash University and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine)

Professor Gary Edmond (UNSW)

Professor David Hamer (University of Sydney)

Rhanee Rego (University of Newcastle)

Associate Professor Mehera San Roque (UNSW) 

This event is co-organised by the Centre for Criminology, Law and Justice, UNSW and Institute of Criminology, University of Sydney Law School.

Call for Abstracts: Domestic and Family Violence Conference

Domestic and family violence is rife in Australia. Concerningly, 1 in 6 women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner, and one woman a week is killed (AIHW, 2018).

To address this complex issue, the Sydney Institute of Criminology is organising a one-day conference on domestic and family violence. This event will take place in person on Gadigal Land at The University of Sydney Camperdown Campus on Thursday, 9 November 2023.

The conference will bring together a diverse group of people, including academics, professionals working in community organisations, and those with lived experience. It is hoped that we will be able to learn from one another’s knowledge and experiences to enhance our understanding of and responses to this urgent national issue. Our aim is to start a dialogue between community organisations and researchers that may lead to mutually beneficial research collaborations.

Call for abstracts

We encourage engaged researchers and those with community experience to submit abstracts. Speakers may present on a variety of topics including (but not limited to): challenges faced by domestic and family violence organisations/survivors, intersectional lived experience, evidence-based prevention and response; best-practice interviewing techniques, psychological treatment of victims and offenders, and legal and policy implications.

Call for abstracts: 1 September 2023

Deadline for abstract submissions: 29 September 2023

Conference registration closes: 20 October 2023

Conference: 9 November 2023

Submit abstract here.

The deadline for submissions is 29 September, 2023.

Registration will open in October. 

CPD: Advocacy in the Children's Court: Considerations for criminal matters involving children and young persons

Presentors: Judge Ellen Skinner, Shannon Richards and James Clifford

The Children’s Court deals with a wide range of cases across New South Wales involving children and young people. In its criminal jurisdiction, matters involve defendants under the age of 18. There are complexities in the legislation as to how certain charges involving children and young persons proceed, including considerations of doli incapax and whether the charges can remain at the summary level or should be dealt with ‘at law’ in a higher court.

This CPD session was recorded on 5th September 2023 and the recording will be released on 28th September 2023. Judge Ellen Skinner, James Clifford and Shannon Richards discussed issues around the age of criminal responsibility and the committal process in the Children’s Court. 

Contested Platforms: From Airbnb To The Autonomous City

Tuesday, 19 September 2023; 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Institute Deputy Director, Dr Allan McCay, will be presenting at the Festival of Urbanism and will discuss the use of emerging technologies in the operation of cities and the ethical and legal issues which it raises. For more information, see here. 

2023 Gala Dinner & Civil Liberties Journalism Awards; NSW Council for Civil Liberties 

20 September 2023; 6:00 PM Onwards

The NSW Council for Civil Liberties has organised a dinner to celebrate their 60th anniversary and to honour the extraordinary activists who founded the Council. Institute member, Mr Josh Pallas is the President of NSWCCL. Institute member, Adjunct Professor Nicholas Cowdery AO KC is also on the committee. For more information, see here. 

Associate Professor Helen Paterson is a professor in Forensic Psychology at the University of Sydney. She is the Deputy Director of Sydney Institute of Criminology. She was awarded her Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia in Canada and her PhD from the University of New South Wales in Australia. Her primary research interest focuses on the effects of traumatic events on memory and psychological well-being. She regularly works with industry partners and has demonstrated an exceptional ability to liaise with partner organisations to conduct high-quality applied research. 

Associate Professor Helen Paterson is organising a conference on Domestic and Family Violence. For more information, see here. 

Is Stockholm Syndrome a sexist myth?

Institute Deputy Director, Associate Professor Helen Paterson, was interviewed in a podcast about the Stockholm Syndrome. See here. 

The 2023/24 Criminal Law CPD Series, presented by the Sydney Institute of Criminology, is an innovative educational program made up of 8 recorded webinars.

Our series covers a wide range of criminal law topics, including criminal procedure, evidence law, and criminal advocacy. Led by experienced legal professionals, our webinars are designed to help you stay up to date with the latest developments in criminal law and earn your mandatory CPD points.

A new webinar will be released each month from April to November and will include a quiz to test your comprehension of the material being discussed.  

Register now for the full series or individual webinars and enjoy the flexibility of watching at your own pace from any location at any time.  

Information for lawyers and barristers
If this educational activity is relevant to your professional development and practice of the law, then you should claim 1.5 MCLE/CPD points per seminar attended.

Practitioners are advised to check with the CPD governing body in their jurisdiction for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Find out about interstate accreditation.

Cost: Full series (8 x webinars) = $300 
Individual webinar(s) = $50

Non-consensual sexual offence law reform in Western Australia

Substantive Law 

Dr Andrew Dyer -  Available now

The Attorney-General of Western Australia has asked that State’s Law Reform Commission to review Western Australia’s sexual offence laws. In December 2022, the Commission published a Discussion Paper that deals with the law relating to sexual consent and the operation of honest and reasonable mistake of fact in non-consensual sexual offence proceedings. This seminar will consider the various reform options. 

Vulnerable witness advocacy

Practice Management and Business Skills, Ethics and professional responsibility

Philip Hogan -  Available now

This seminar will discuss the definition of a vulnerable witness in the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) and the provisions in the Act that allow for the use of pre-recorded evidence and provide for other alternative means of giving evidence. The seminar will particularly consider the way a complainant’s evidence is adduced in the Child Sexual Assault Program operating in some NSW courts. There will also be some discussion of Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) provisions that may be relevant to the evidence of a vulnerable witness. Finally, the seminar will cover relevant provisions of the Equality before the Law Bench Book and some findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. 

Digital vulnerability: Vulnerable individuals and remote access technologies in justice

Ethics and professional responsibility. Professional skills. Practice Management. 

Dr Carolyn McKay - Available now

This seminar will focus on the use of remote access technologies, such as audiovisual links, when working with vulnerable individuals in the justice system, and the developing concept of ‘digital vulnerability’. The seminar will draw on Dr McKay’s current Australian Research Council (‘ARC’) funded research and examine the multiple layers of vulnerability that individuals may experience while involved in legal matters. It will present preliminary findings from initial fieldwork interviews with lawyers and judicial officers that reveal critical perspectives on the impacts of digitalisation on vulnerable people in the justice system. While the research project and findings centre on the criminal justice system, many of the issues are equally relevant to legal practitioners working with vulnerable people in civil matters. 

Assessing witness credibility: Is it possible to tell whether someone is lying or telling the truth?

Substantive law. Professional skills.

Associate Professor Helen Paterson - Available now

Witness testimony can be extremely influential in legal investigations and trials; however, sometimes witnesses lie. Such deception can be detrimental to due process, and can result in miscarriages of justice. Thus, it is important for legal personnel and factfinders to be able to determine whether someone is lying or telling the truth. This interactive seminar will discuss research investigating behavioural and content indicators of deception. It will help legal practitioners understand the difficulties in discriminating liars from truth-tellers as well as the evidence base for various lie detection techniques. 

Advocacy in the Children's Court: Considerations for criminal matters involving children and young persons

Ethics and professional responsibility. Professional skills.

Judge Ellen Skinner, Shannon Richards and James Clifford - Available 28 September 2023 

The Children’s Court deals with a wide range of cases across New South Wales involving children and young people. In its criminal jurisdiction, matters involve defendants under the age of 18. There are complexities in the legislation as to how certain charges involving children and young persons proceed, including considerations of doli incapax and whether the charges can remain at the summary level or should be dealt with ‘at law’ in a higher court. This presentation will discuss issues around the age of criminal responsibility and the committal process in the Children’s Court. It will help lawyers practising criminal law who appear in the Children’s Court, and provide perspectives from the Bench, prosecution and defence. 

Should Deceptive Sex Always Be Rape? Dr Andrew Dyer - Substantive Law

The Role of the Crown Prosecutor in NSW Mr Brett Hatfield Practice - Management and Business Skills, Ethics and professional responsibility

The Reliability and Credibility of Eyewitnesses Associate Professor Helen Paterson - Substantive Law

Ethical Practice for Junior Criminal Law Barristers Ms Talitha Hennessy - Ethics and professional responsibility

Myths, Misconceptions and Mixed Messages: An Early Look at the New Tendency and Coincidence Evidence Provisions Professor David Hamer - Substantive Law

Advocacy in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal Mr John Stratton SC - Professional Skills

The Work of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Judge Paul Lakatos SC - Professional Skills

Current Issues in Criminal Justice (CICJ) provides detailed analysis of national and international issues by a range of outstanding contributors. It includes contemporary comments, with discussion at the cutting edge of the crime and justice debate, as well as reviews of recently released books.

CICJ accepts submissions on a rolling basis.

Editor: Dr Justin Ellis, member of the Sydney Institute of Criminology

You can access current and previous issues of Current Issues in Criminal Justice here.

If you have a book suitable for review by CICJ, please email the books editor, Celine Van Golde at celine.vangolde@sydney.edu.au

Conference: Accountability in crisis: the rise of impunity as a challenge to human rights

11 October 2023 - 12 October 2023

This conference will bring together academics, journalists, politicians, activists, and business leaders to explore how rising authoritarianism, prolonged global conflict, climate change, economic instability and the proliferation of digital media have triggered an erosion of the human rights principles and practice and declining trust in democratic institutions. The conference will consider how government, business, media and civil society operate to both undermine and bolster accountability. For more information, see here. 

Reframing restorative justice – a workshop for advocates and educators

29 September 2023 - 30 September 2023 

According to Reframing crime and justice: a guide to improving communications (Transform Justice, 2020: 1), framing is about ‘the choices we make when we communicate’. The purpose of this workshop is to learn about cutting-edge research on framing criminal justice and restorative justice, and consider the implications for how we speak about restorative justice and justice reform with different publics.

Register here. 

Legal Education Research Conference 2023; UNSW Law & Justice 

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 9:30 AM - Tue, 21 Nov 2023 5:00 PM

The field of legal education is evolving, and a significant shift has taken place towards more experiential and practical learning approaches. The theme for this year is 'Situated Learning: Climate Change, First Nations Recognition, Generative AI'. Register here. 

Australian Institute of Criminology Conference 2023

16 October 2023

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) is hosting the AIC 2023 conference on Monday 16 October 2023, commemorating 50 years since the establishment of the AIC.

A limited number of conference tickets are available to purchase from Eventbrite.

For more information, see here. 

Conference: Improving Outcomes for Children Experiencing Vulnerability & Risk; The Hatchery 

26 September 2023 - 27 September 2023 

In Australia, there is a national drive to improve outcomes for vulnerable children through targeted interventions, but more needs to be done to improve service and system level responses, lift workforce capability and effectively support children experiencing risk, harm or vulnerability, particularly in complex cases.

The conference will showcase how all Australians can work together to achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable children and those experiencing disadvantage. Register here. 

Conference: Child Representation; Legal Aid NSW

16 September 2023; 9:00 AM - 4.30 PM 

The conference will include a session with Judge Kylie Beckhouse (FCFCOA), Magistrate Nicole Ford and Kerri Phillips, Legal Aid NSW, who will address The Evolving Role of the Child Representative. For more details, see here. 

Symposium: Rural Crime, Justice & Disaster: Impacts, Response and Recovery; University of New England, Centre for Rural Criminology & the ISSRC

29 November 2023

This symposium explores the various types of disasters and how they impact rural areas, including pandemics, natural disasters, biosecurity, economic crises, and political turmoil. These events have significant effects on the social, environmental, and economic aspects of rural communities.

The symposium's focus is on the connection between these disasters and crime, with an emphasis on preventing, responding to, and recovering from them. For more information, see here.  

PhD Candidate; Young people who sexually offend: An evaluation of the Tasmanian Youth Justice System; University of Tasmania 

Applications close: 25 September 2023

The Tasmania Law Reform Institute (TLRI) is seeking applications for a PhD from motivated graduates with first class honours (or equivalent) in law, criminology or criminal justice. The topic of the PhD is “Young people who sexually offend: an evaluation of the Tasmanian Youth Justice System.”

The successful applicant will receive a TLRI-funded $5,000 top-up scholarship (Years 1-3) in addition to a living allowance ($31,500) and a relocation allowance ($2,000).

The PhD candidate’s research will dovetail with a large TLRI project (2023-25) funded by the Tasmanian Government.

For more information, see here.

Lecturer in Criminology (Multiple positions); Griffith University 

Applications close: 17 September 2023 

The School of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Griffith University fosters interdisciplinary collaborations with the Schools of Applied Psychology, Health Science and Social Work, Information and Computer Technology, and Griffith Business School.

The School of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Griffith University are seeking to appoint lecturers in Criminology. For more information, see here. 

NSW Sentencing Council - Board Member

Applications close : 01 October 2023

The NSW Attorney General is calling for applications to be considered for appointment to the NSW Sentencing Council. There are two vacancies:

~ a member representing the general community, and

~ a member with expertise or experience in Aboriginal justice matters.

For more information, see here. 

Call for preliminary submissions: Anti-Discrimination Act; NSW Law Reform Commission 

Deadline for Submission: 29 September 2023 

The Attorney General has asked the Law Reform Commission to review the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW). The terms of reference set out the scope of the review.

Please email your preliminary submission to nsw-lrc@justice.nsw.gov.au by 29 September 2023. For more information, see here.

Call for submissions: Kim Santow Law and Social Justice Essay Prize , The University of Sydney Law School 

Deadline for Submissions: 6 November, 2023

Sydney Law School is pleased to announce the second annual Kim Santow Law and Social Justice Essay Prize.

The Essay Prize is open to students enrolled in an LLB or JD program at an Australian University.  In 2023, essays must be submitted by 6 November 2023, responding this proposition:

What policy initiative/s would best enable you to pursue a career in social justice?

For more information, see here.

Call for projects: European Crime Prevention Award and Best Practice Conference 2023 

Deadline for Submissions: 29 September 2023 

The European Crime Prevention Award (ECPA) and Best Practice Conference (BPC) will take place on 13 and 14 December 2023 in Valencia, Spain. The theme is preventing the trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation and other kinds of exploitation. For more information, see here. 

Call for Submissions: UNSW Law Journal 

Deadline for Submissions: 17 November 2023 

The UNSW Law Journal is currently welcoming submissions for the thematic component of Issue 47(2). The topic for this thematic is ‘Developments in Rights, Freedoms and Accountability’. For more information, see here. 

Australian Institute of Criminology 

Evidence for nature-based interventions reducing recidivism among offenders is growing. Nature-based interventions have yet to be trialled with men who have perpetrated domestic violence.

This study aimed to develop, pilot, test and refine an innovative program that incorporates an integrated approach and includes community restitution through an environmental project that operated in parallel to a traditional men’s behaviour change program. Data were collected pre and post intervention with men, practitioners, volunteers and (ex)partners.

Study results indicate initial positive trends in improving men’s wellbeing and engagement, but further research is needed to determine impacts on behaviour change.

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