Crime in Australia: An Overview

umbr mount in Australia An OverviewWhat is abominationWhat is criminal offence? criminal offense coffin nail be defined as happy chance the faithfulness. The govern ment or authorities normally set law of natures that the citizens must constitute, penalty is prescribed for those who bleach those laws. The laws provided by a state ar an suit of behavior codes that influence society. The legal or condemnable arbitrator musical arrangement enforces the law and punishes those who break it. T present is a social stigma swain with ab function. It is important to none that all breaches of the law atomic number 18 not turn such(prenominal) as civil offenses and breach of contract. The tag criminal offence is usually reserved for the offences that cause harm or in jury to the public, individuals or the state. Social, political, sparing and psychological conditions influence the definition of aversion and how the law is en labored. These changes may outlaw or de iniqui tousize behavior. The statistics on evil will guide to bow this factor into account.Who is the Criminal?A criminal is deviant who does not follow social codes that exist in the society. Legally, a criminal is a individual who breaches the law and commits a crime. This offender is the tried before a apostrophize of law for breakinspersong the law. A criminal is usually found to be guilty of the charges put against him/her. A sentence or punishment is wee to such an individual.Get help with your essay from our expert essay writersTypes of crimeIn Australia crimes are legally classified as either chargeable or non-indictable. Indictable offenses are heard in a gilt-edged court in the presences of a jury. However, non-indictable offenses are heard in magistrate courts and jury is not necessary.Although thither are servicemany differences in the various jurisdictions, a conclusion was make that offenses include sendup, burglary, robbery, mishandle, enrapture and homicide.Crime is categorized as trigger-happy, public order or dimension crime in the criminal legal expert statistics. Violent crimes consist of assault, inner violence, robbery, kidnapping or abduction and homicide. robbery to well-nigh extent is a airplane propeller crime. However, its considered a violent crime since the threat of violence is a graver offence.Criminal arbiter system in AustraliaAustralias criminal law has evolved from the initial law adopted from the English common law. Australias federal government is made up of the national government and six states. The commonwealth government enforces its avow laws. Commonwealth offenses include drug trafficking, breach of social security laws, property and personal offenses that occur within the commonwealth. Every state has its avow criminal law. States like Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland have enacted the criminal codes. The other states capital of Seychelles, south-central Australia and reinvigorated South Wal es use the common law.Currently gender, race, policing, law and crime are some of the topics for debate in the criminal legal expert system. Stakeholders are kin on establishing a congenatorship between crime, gender, race and the legal umpire system. However, the issue has not received adequate media and political attention.Gender track downAccording to statistics on Australias workforce in criminal justice work there are more men compared to women. It is a mans job. Examining gender shades more light on criminology and victimization. training and statistics provided also shows Australian indigenous white male represent the largest universe in the prisons. The author observes, That a specific group of approximately 2% of Australias young-bearing(prenominal) cosmos accounts for half of the overall number of indigenous Australian women who are in prison. These findings are astonishing.In addition, statistics also reveals that legal age of those working in criminal justice a re white males. The population of indigenous white men is larger than that of indigenous Australian women. Evidently, there is a racial disparity in the workforce of the criminal justice system in AustraliaPolicingThe image of the legal philosophy in the legal justice system is analyzed by Cunneen in his book Conflict, Politics and Crime fundamental Communities and the Police. The author examines the over-criminalization of Australias indigenous stack in social intercourse to their colonial past. He developed a theory that there is a relationship between criminalization and colonization of the indigenous the great unwashed. Cunneen gives attention to the role the police play in the process of criminalization of the indigenous people. He notes that the law enforcers particularly the police have limited effectives their policies and practices are shortcoming. The police need to change their colonial policing style and finish. A zero allowance account approach to wards crime has been adopted however, it is important to protect human rights and to use good judgment.Police have a vital role in crime prevention and reaction. However, more speech pattern should be placed on crime prevention. The police need to organize targeted patrols, follow ups for victims with repeat allegations, blistering improved response to victims, problem identification and development of solutions as closely as cooperation with other law enforcing agencies. For this changes to take place successfully a cultural and mind set change is fundamental. (Brereton, David)AgeThe minimum age for trial in Australias youthful court and in the bounteous courts varies. N superstartheless, 7 geezerhood is the minimum age for trial in a insipid court and 16 years for trial in an gravid court in approximately states. In some jurisdictions criminal charges such as murder, rape and treason are tried in magnanimous courts.SexualityCrime and society in AustraliaWomen have often been the victim s of crime. A subscribe to was conducted on the victimization of women in Australia. The survey on informal and physical violence was carried out on women between 18 to 69 years. The definition of physical violence included threats, arm twisting, attempted asphyxiation and use of weapons like knifes or a guns. Forced hinge onual engagement, abdicable sexual touch and attempts of sexual violence. According to the report 10% of the women who participated in the survey had experienced male violence that year or the prior one. The number of women who expreinced physical violence was twice as high as that of the ones who experienced sexual violence. The statistics indicated that 5% of the physical violence was perpetrated by a non-partner while 3% of the sexual violence was also committed by a non-partner. The report defined a non-partner as a friend, relative, acquaintance, workmate or stranger.General, partner sexual and physical violence are hardly account to the authorities. M ost victims find it easier to speak to their families and friends than report to the police.Table 1 Reports by victims of violence to family members, friends and the police.Partner violenceNon-partner violenceFamily42%51%Friends55%57%Police15%16%The main(prenominal) question here is why the womanish victims of violence fail to report to the police. One of the some common reasons attached by the victims was that they thought the case was minor or they thought that nothing could be done to help them. Has the legal system failed those whom it should protect? Its necessary to evaluate how informed the public is on individuals rights. another(prenominal) area of concern is how much a person should take or allow themselves to be subjected to, in relation to violence before they plunder speak and seek legal justice.In 2001 and 2002 about 18 women were victims of rout rape and assault. The Ashfield gang rape perpetrated by the K Pakistani brothers is an suit of such cases. Their vict ims were teenage girls from different ethnic backgrounds. The crime was comparable to Lebanese gang rapes in Sydney. Australias law defines rape as illegitimate sexual act with another person by force without their take to.The rapists image taped most of their rape and this was used in court as evidence. The criminal justice system judged and punished the perpetrators. The K brothers were sentenced to 15 to 24 years imprisonment. They were convicted for a total of 70 years for the 28 rape charges against them. In November 2005, an appeal made by three of the brothers was rejected. sooner in 2006 there term was extended by the Supreme Court ( smart South Wales). On of the brothers however, committed suicide in his cell. By 2007 the brothers were to face spare rape charges.During the court proceedings the issue of cultural difference between Australian and Pakistani culture arose. The rapist cl ordered that they did not understand what consent meant according to Australias cost. According to them the girls behavior was a form of consent. They claimed that their victims behaved in a way that Pakistani girls would not especially if they were not uncoerced to cooperate. The presiding judge dismissed their claims and openly told off their lawyer for making such an argument.The above incident is an example of immigrants been the perpetrators of crime. The difference in culture is legitimate no excuse for committing such crimes. It is important to question how allowing immigrants into Australia influences crime. Certainly, different definitions of crime exist in varying countries and culture. What measures are in place to plug that the interest of Australias population is safeguarded?Women are also victims of trafficking in Australia. These women are usually trafficked from other countries especially Asia and forced to work in as sex workers. The media highlighted this issue and claimed that government agencies helped the perpetrator. According to the media t he government mismanaged cases by victims of trafficking and deported those women without gift them any compensation for the crimes committed against them. In response Australias fan tan set up a joint committal to investigate the issue.The committees findings acknowledged that people trafficking is a major crime in Australia. Most of the trafficked people were unaware of the nature of work they would have to do in Australia. The committee was also concerned about the ease with which traffickers could entranceway visas for hundreds of trafficked victims without raising any suspicion. Approximately 300 to 1000 women are trafficked into Australia annually. The trafficked women were forced to work not only in the sex industry scarcely also in clothing and textiles, domestic work, construction and in the hospitality industry. Most of these victims were physically, sexually and mentally assaulted. Moreover, their working conditions were atrocious.Immigration has amplifyd in Austral ia. In the 20th century more Asians have immigrated to Australia. This has lead to the increase of Asian gangs and criminal activities by these gangs in the major cities. Racial agent struggles are evident even in politics. The one National fellowship was branded as Nazis by the Jews in Australia. The Australia-Israel Review printed the article with the aim of intimidating the party members. The attempts by the whites in Australia were shunned unlike the Aborigines. The whites were doing what the Aborigines had done exclusively there move was termed as racist.The Aboriginals or the indigenous Australian people have in the past organized themselves on racial basis. They have also received special treatment from the government. They even have their own Aboriginal Law Council. The Aborigines account for 2% of Australias population. However, according to statistics by the Australian Institute of Criminology the Aborigines make up 30% of the inmates. (The Argus, 1985).Recent years hav e also witnessed crimes organized by a race against another. For voice the 2005 racial violence in Sydney is an example. There was a week coarse all attack on Moslems following an alleged attack of lifetime guard in North Cronulla beach by a Lebanese man. Innocent people were attacked as gangs took advantage of the situation to target individuals found on their race. The government and the media did not do much to calm the situation. Moreover, to some extent the government was responsible for fueling such an attack. Since the September 11 terrorist attacks Muslim-Australians were subject to state surveillance, police raids and awe mongering. Media coverage on war on terrorism worsened the situation making all Muslim Australians to be labeled as terrorists. Media coverage on the Sydney riots appeared to support the violence. For exemplification, the quotidian Telegraph, December had the heading Fight for Cronulla we want our beach back. historic rape cases that in involved Le banese men give exculpation to the attackers to claim that all Lebanese men are rapist. Clearly, such a claim has no basis because a number of Lebanese men were convicted of the crime it does not justify the punishment of an entire race. Terrorism is one of the challenges that this generation has to report. However, it is not justified to attack person and destroy property belonging to people because they belong to a particular race that is criminate of terrorist acts.The division on racial lines was evident in the riots with different groups slaughter out at others openly. The world is quickly becoming a world-wide village. Therefore there is a need to understand, accept, cooperate and work with people from different cultures, races, ethnicity and religion. Tolerance should be emphasized in the current generation not violence or crimes against any particular race.A study done by the Australian government on juvenile anger revealed that ethnic minority offspring were more l ikely to be offenders. Unemployment among the youth (15-19 years of age) was the main reason for engagement in crime. The unemployment rate for the minority youths was three times higher than the general unemployment grade of other youths. For instance the unemployment rate for Vietnamese Australian males doubles that of the general Australian youth rate. (HREOC 1993223)The report by the Australia Bureau of Statistics showed that juveniles accounted for 13% of those in police custody. In 2003, persons between the ages of 15 and 19 accounted for the highest crime rate and booking. The juvenile offenders were quadruple times more than the other offenders. teenaged offenders were mostly charged with unwanted entry, theft, assault and motor vehicle theft. Cases of juvenile homicide, sexual violence, robbery and fraud were very minimal. (ABS, 2003)It is a matter of concern that youth engage in crime either individually or in gangs. Unemployment is one of the reasons given for this beh avior. However, it is necessary to examine racial employment discrimination in terms of race. Statistics have shown that there is a large disparity between unemployment rates of minority youths with that of youth in general.A report by Australia Criminology surgical incision showed that female homicide offenders were highest among 20 to 24 year olds. This was the same case for the men. (2003). Homicide cases for female offenders between 15 to 24 years of age had fluctuated in the 1990s.A report prepared by the National Homicide observe course of instruction (NHMP) showed that in 2003 there were 341 cases of homicide in Australia. This was a 6% decrease compared to the findings of the prior year. strike cases accounted for 89% of the homicide case in 2003 while the rest were manslaughter. Domestic link disputes were responsible for most of the female homicide incidences. The female victims were killed due to disputes related to small fry custody, break ups in a relationship and other partner conflicts.However, most of the homicide victims were male. They accounted for 67% of the homicide victims with men between the ages of 25 and 44 being the largest target. comparison to the women at all ages the male homicide victims were more expect for ages under 15. The female homicide victims had decreased by 15% compared to a survey done the previous year. (Australia Bureau of Statistics 2004)A survey done in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria indicated that 175,872 offenders were booked in 2003. 138,232 were male while 37,640 were female. Compared to the females, males were four times more likely to be offenders. The offending rate for men was 3,148 per 100,000. (2002-2003)Rehabilitation of the inmates is a subject that needs to be given priority as outlying(prenominal) as enforcement of the law in Australia is concerned. Research has revealed that rehabilitation of female inmates seems to emphasis on those convicted of minor offenses compared to those wh o have committed criminal offences like homicide. The investigate reveals that female prisoners with long term charges have limited and impersonalized rehabilitation.CONCLUSION late crime cases have increased worldwide. However, the crimes performed by the deviant youth are not as serious as those perpetrated by adults. In Australia the juvenile offenders rate has doubled, with most of the perpetrators been male youths. (AIC, 2003). It is argued that the main reason why juvenile booking rates have increased is because the youth are easier to see and prosecute. Their level of crime organization is generally less complex compared to that of adults. The main concern is how to rehabilitate youth crime offenders so that they do not continue to engage in crime in their adult life.Generally, less women are perpetrators of crime compared to women. However, they are often victimized, in relation to sexual or physical assault. The victims of human trafficking in Australia are mostly women. Crime rate are higher among certain races in Australia, especially among the minorities and the immigrants. This is in the first place due to the racial disparities that exist in terms of employment luck and discrimination.Australia has made various initiatives to stop crime. As part of a crime prevention effort the National Community Crime bar Program was instituted in 2004. Its grant program received a funding of $ 65.5 billion for the period between 2004 and 2008. These funds were to support grass root programs on crime prevention, improve safety in the community and reduce the fear associated with crime.The public, politicians and law enforcers should focus on crime prevention. Its of utmost magnificence to change the perception on crime. It is not enough to react to criminals acts by arresting, taking to trial and convicting perpetrators. The government and its legal agents need to examine what can be done so as to address the issue of crime before it occurs. Prevention of crime should be given more attention. Instead of hiring more law enforcing officer, building more prisons and funding the criminal law justice system the funds can be used to improve development in the country.It is not enough to set up agencies to address the issue of crime. More far reaching initiatives need to be taken. Issues such as perception, equality in terms of opportunities and affirmative action for minorities, culture change and enforcement of the law without any bias should be considered in relation to crime and crime prevention.ReferencesAdam, G peter G. 1999. The Cambridge handbook of Australian Criminology. Cambridge, UK.Allen S. Walklate, 2001. Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice, Willan Publishing, UK.Argus correspondent, 1985. Aborigines have the highest jail rate in the world. The Argus, Nov.Australian Bureau of statistics, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003. Population by age and sex Australian states and territories 1997 to 2002 ABS, Canberra.Australian Gove rnment Australian Institute of Criminology, Chris Cunneen, White Robert, 2000. Juvenile Justice youth and Crime in Australia. Oxford, UK.Cunneen, Chris, 1998. Conflict, Politics and Crime Aboriginal Communities and the Police. Oxford, UK.D Chappell P Wilson, (eds.) 2000. Crime and the Criminal Justice System in Australia 2000 and Beyond. Butterworths, SydneyGuillermo, Bernal, 2003. Handbook of Racial and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Oxford, UK.Jacobsen, G. 2005. Brothers violent gang rapes revealed. The Sydney aurora Herald. 21 July.Jacobsen, G.2007, Charges brought against brothers for rapes. The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 Nov.Mason, G Tomsen, S (eds.), 1997. Homophobic fury. Hawkins Press, SydneyMason, G, hate Crime as Moral Category Lessons from the Snowtown Case Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology 40(3) 249-271 (2007) Recorded crime victims, Australia 2003. ABS Canberra. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003. Population by age and sex Australian states and territo ries 2003. ABS Canberra.Mason, G, 1990. Youth Suicide in Australia Prevention Strategies, Department of Employment, Education and Training Australian Institute of Criminology, CanberraMason, G, 2002. The Spectacle of Violence Homophobia, Gender Knowledge, Routledge, United Kingdom.Mason, G, 2007. Hate Crime in T. Anthony C. Cunneen, A vital Criminology Reader, Federation Press, AnnandaleMouzos, J Makkai, T. 2004. Womens experiences of male violence findings from the Australian component of the multinational violence against women survey (IVAWS). Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra.Mouzos, J. 2002, Homicide in Australia 2000-2001 National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP) Annual Report, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra.Ms Maltzahm, Proof delegacy Hansard, 18 November 2003. Sir, P. 1995. Violent Property Crime. Federation Press, Sydney.Wallace, N, 2005. Gang rapists attacks unavoidable, says lawyer. The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 Dec.Wallace, Natasha, 200 5. Gang rapist claims right to assault The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 Oct.Wallace, Natasha. 2005. History of infamy, The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 Nov.