Criminal Justice Research Consortium Launch 31 October 2006

2 Aims of the CJRC To enhance the profile of Monash University in the criminal justice field. To enhance cross-disciplinary collaboration among Monash criminal justice researchers. To develop high quality cross-disciplinary research proposals and evaluations in criminal justice. To provide research expertise to government departments and other organisations involved with criminal justice. To provide cross-disciplinary supervision for research students.

3 Other aims To provide a link between Monash staff and the criminal justice field. To respond to needs of the criminal justice field (through advice from an Advisory Committee). To provide seminars and training to criminal justice organisations.

4 Who we are 45 academic staff from: Law Social Work Forensic Psychology Criminology Criminal Justice Rural Health Forensic Psychiatry Linguistics IT

5 Our expertise risk assessment and treatment of offenders cognitive behavioural programs sentencing, alternative dispute resolution juvenile justice community corrections prisons alcohol and drug addictions dangerous offenders, violent offenders drug courts forensic mental health, mental health and offending crime and gender criminal justice administration policing, police interviews linguistics and interviews

6 Research projects Evaluation of prison transition programs Analysis of worker-client interviews in juvenile justice Impact of criminal records on individuals Analysis of language in police interviews Risk assessment profiles Evaluation of sex offender programs Policing and prolific offenders Threats of violence Stalking Prison health Children’s Court decision making Sentencing outcomes

7 Research students: examples of projects Reducing violence in and around licensed premises (Social Work, Criminal Justice, Forensic Psychiatry) Analysis of confrontation in juvenile justice interviews (Linguistics, Rural Health, Social Work) Case management in juvenile justice (Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Criminology)

8 CJRC Executive Committee Assoc Professor Chris Trotter (Social Work) Professor Bernadette McSherry (Law) Professor James Ogloff (Forensic Psychiatry) Dr David Baker (Criminal Justice) Dr Gerald Acquaah-Gaisie (Arts) Dr Kevin Korb (IT) Assoc Professor Donna Cohen (RPDU) Dr Richard Huysmans (RPDU)

9 CJRC Advisory Committee (accepted to date) Corrections Victoria Department of Human Services – Office for Children Department of Justice – Public Prosecutions Melbourne City Mission Mental Health Legal Centre Mental Health Review Board Office of the Public Advocate VACRO

10 Role of the Advisory Committee Provide advice on the development, management and maintenance of the CJRC. Act as a point of contact between CJRC researchers and the field of criminal justice. Assist with identification of research needs and priorities. Encourage relevant cross-disciplinary research and research supervision through the CJRC.

11 Progress to date Executive Committee established Research students recruited Increased the membership to 45 Monash staff Gained funding for evaluation of prison transition programs – other projects underway Undertaken a workshop with 25 Monash staff Developed a detailed brochure Developed a website Issued invitations to potential Advisory Committee members

12 Next Steps Research proposals and evaluations Further seminars/workshops Recruitment of research students Liaisons with other agencies Meeting of Advisory Committee

13 Professor Colin Roberts Director, Probation Studies Unit Centre for Criminology University of Oxford Safer and Surer: Managing persistent and serious offenders.