Access to safe justice in Australian courts: some reflections upon intelligence, design and process
Date
2013
Authors
Sarre, R.
Vernon, A.
Editors
Richards, K.
Tauri, J.
Tauri, J.
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 2013 / Richards, K., Tauri, J. (ed./s), vol.1, iss.2, pp.182-193
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
2nd International Conference Crime, Justice and Social Democracy 2013 (8 Jul 2013 - 11 Jul 2013 : Queensland, Australia)
Abstract
In the last decade there have been great strides taken in making courts and judicial processes less intimidating for those who come into them, principally through the provision of CCTV (to enable evidence‐giving from remote rooms), volunteer court visitor information services, victim assistance programs, duty solicitors offering legal aid, and training of court staff. Good security science, too, has made courts more secure, physically, for those who visit them. Whether security services have been drawn from a sheriff’s department or have been contracted ‘in’, the end result has been a strong (and growing) emphasis upon risk management of courts and the safety of those who enter them. After all, governments and courts have a responsibility to protect those who work in, or who visit, court precincts, as visitors, as clients or as administrative or legal professionals. But the upshot of this is to paint a general picture of defendants as security risks. The question thus arises: to what extent is it possible to secure courtrooms to an optimal degree without jeopardising the important feature of curial ‘openness’? By examining the way in which courts now operate on a daily basis around Australia, and by looking at some new ideas regarding court structure and processes, this paper seeks to answer this enduring question.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
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Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2013 Crime and Justic Research Centre QUT