Research Activities

In addition to developing a statistical database, the Centre has been at the forefront of evaluative criminal justice research in Western Australia. The focus has been on producing research which is both scholarly and of relevance to the needs of professionals involved in the formulation, development and implementation of criminal justice policy. Key issues which have been examined by Centre staff in recent years include the following:

• Aboriginal contact with the criminal justice system
• The nature and extent of domestic violence
• Violent property crime
• Weapon choice by violent offenders
• Repeat juvenile offenders and the strategy of incapacitation
• Risk assessment in the criminal justice system
• Sex offending and recidivism
• Victimisation patterns and the provision of services for victims
• Road rage; driving related violence
• Drink driving offences
• Social security fraud
• Women offenders and pre sentence reports
• Prison privatisation
• Criminal law reform
• Sentencing and Parole
• Rural Crime
• Young people's attitudes to violence, including domestic violence