NCJ Number
74331
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article analyzes the trends and problems of Australia's nine jurisdictions or criminal justice systems.
Abstract
There exists no single, all embracing criminal justice system serving the whole of Australia. Rather there are several systems and each jurisdiction has its own criminal law and correctional network. It is therefore difficult to study and evaluate crime in Australia. To date a uniform set of crime data which covers crime in Australia as a whole is unavailable, although an analysis of seven major categories of crime for all Australia from 1964 to 1978 has been completed. From this analysis, the following conclusions emerge: crime rates of serious assault, robbery, rape, breaking and entering and motor vehicle theft have risen, some dramatically; the overall crime rate in Australia increased annually from 1964 to 1978 by 16 percent for the offense categories mentioned. While the crime problem continues to grow, it can be anticipated that alternative measures to imprisonment will continue to be tried in an effort to reduce or maintain present levels of prisoner populations. In the area of penal reform, the prison oficer will be having a far stronger voice in what should and can be done with regard to the needs and requirements of penal institutions. Most jurisdictions are having problems with overcrowding in prisons and in many jurisdictions prisons are being extended or renovated and new buildings comtemplated. A further area of concern relates to medical and psychiatric facilities in prisons. In New South Wales, for example, proper treatment facilities are sadly lacking. Prisoner health will become a major issue in corrections in the 1980's in Australia.