Criminal Justice Research Consortium
Launch
31 October 2006
www.monash.edu.au
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.
www.monash.edu.au
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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.
www.monash.edu.au
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Who we are
45 academic staff from:
• Law
• Social Work
• Forensic Psychology
• Criminology
• Criminal Justice
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Rural Health
Forensic Psychiatry
Linguistics
IT
www.monash.edu.au
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Our expertise
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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
www.monash.edu.au
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Research projects
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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
www.monash.edu.au
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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)
www.monash.edu.au
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CJRC Executive Committee
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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)
www.monash.edu.au
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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
www.monash.edu.au
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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.
www.monash.edu.au
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Progress to date
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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
www.monash.edu.au
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Next Steps
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Research proposals and evaluations
Further seminars/workshops
Recruitment of research students
Liaisons with other agencies
Meeting of Advisory Committee
www.monash.edu.au
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Professor Colin Roberts
Director, Probation Studies Unit
Centre for Criminology
University of Oxford
Safer and Surer: Managing persistent
and serious offenders.
www.monash.edu.au
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