HomeRESEARCH AREASCriminal Justice

Criminal Justice

The criminal justice system costs taxpayers more than $15 billion each year. Over the past decade, Australia’s prison population has grown by 40 percent, with the rate of incarceration now higher than it has been for a century. But crime and recidivism are not falling. Here you will find the IPA's work on how to improve Australia's criminal justice system.

Constitution and Law

Courting Calamity

Morgan Begg Started 24 September 2020 Constitution and law, Criminal justice,

This article from the Winter 2020 edition of the IPA Review is written by IPA Research Fellow, Morgan Begg. Australia’s success as a multicultural nation has depended on our commitment to the idea...

Criminal Justice

Mitigate Coronavirus Risks By Reducing Remand For Non-Violent Charges

Andrew Bushnell and Daniel Wild 20 April 2020 Constitution and law, Criminal justice,

The coronavirus pandemic is an extraordinary threat to public health, and governments around Australia have taken appropriate, and so far successful, steps to protect the population. As the crisis...

Media Releases

Like Trump, Australia Must Focus On Reoffending To Make Communities Safer

Andrew Bushnell 9 February 2020 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

“The single most effective criminal justice reform would be to reduce reoffending,” said Andrew Bushnell, Research Fellow at the free market think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs. The...

Research Papers

Skewed Priorities – Comparing The Growth Of Prison Spending With Police Spending

Andrew Bushnell 19 November 2019 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

Over the past decade, Australia has seen an unsustainable rise in the rate and cost of incarceration. Nationally, the incarceration rate is at an all-time high of 217 per 100,000 adults, and...

PUBLICATIONS

Improve Private Prison Contracts To Cut Costs And Reduce Reoffending

Andrew Bushnell 11 October 2019 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

“Stronger incentives for rehabilitation can improve private prisons and lead to reduced reoffending, less crime, and lower costs for taxpayers,” said Andrew Bushnell, Research Fellow at the free...

PUBLICATIONS

Why Western Australia Needs Criminal Justice Reform

Andrew Bushnell 5 September 2019 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

Criminal justice reform is a combination of measures designed to arrest and reverse the rise of incarceration, reduce reoffending and crime, guarantee community safety, and save taxpayers money...

PUBLICATIONS

It Is Time For Criminal Justice Reform In WA

Andrew Bushnell 5 September 2019 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

“The rapid growth of incarceration in Western Australia is imposing significant costs on taxpayers without improving community safety,” said Andrew Bushnell, Research Fellow at the Institute of...

PUBLICATIONS

US Criminal Justice Reform A Lesson For Us

Andrew Bushnell 12 April 2019 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

US President Donald Trump’s endorsement of criminal justice reform is a landmark for conservatives. After campaigning as the “law and order candidate”, Trump has been won over by the argument...

Originally appeared in The Australian

PUBLICATIONS

Prison is For Violent Offenders, Not Media Executives

Andrew Bushnell 4 April 2019 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

“Throwing media executives in jail will increase costs to taxpayers without improving community safety or addressing concerns about violent content being shared on social media platforms,” said...

PUBLICATIONS

Queensland’s Rising Incarceration Rate Calls For Criminal Justice Overhaul

Andrew Bushnell 11 February 2019 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

Queenslanders are facing a massive increase in criminal justice costs but without any promise the spending will lead to safer communities. This is the key finding of a new Queensland Productivity...

Originally appeared in Courier Mail

PUBLICATIONS

Give Victims The Right To Appeal Soft Sentences

Andrew Bushnell 31 October 2018 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

Earlier this year, two women were convicted of assaulting a paramedic but avoided prison after a judge found there were special circumstances justifying a more lenient punishment. The Victorian...

Media Releases

IPA Research Recommends New Way To Boost Confidence In The Courts

Andrew Bushnell 19 October 2018 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

“Australians deserve to have courts they can trust to always apply common sense standards of justice,” said Andrew Bushnell, Research Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. “Giving victims the...

Media Releases

South Australia Should Allow Offenders in Community Service To Do Paid Work

Evan Mulholland 25 July 2018 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

“Offenders in community service in South Australia are not doing all the hours of work that they should be doing to pay back their debts to society,” said Andrew Bushnell, Research Fellow at the...

Research Papers

Making Community Corrections Work

Andrew Bushnell 14 May 2018 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

This paper draws on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Productivity Commission, and a range of studies conducted into the effectiveness of community corrections. It finds that...

Opinion

Indigenous Incarceration: Reform Policy Should Not Compromise Equality Before The Law

Andrew Bushnell 6 April 2018 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

The exceptionally high rate of incarceration among indigenous Australians requires a policy response that does not compromise equality before the law or community safety. Over the past decade, the...

Originally appeared in The Australian

PUBLICATIONS

Public Safety Must Always Be The Priority

Andrew Bushnell 3 January 2018 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

Under pressure, Victoria Police have now finally admitted that gangs of young people from African backgrounds are causing fear and havoc in Melbourne’s streets. But despite that...

Originally appeared in Herald Sun

IPA TV

Our Work on Criminal Justice in 2017

Andrew Bushnell 19 December 2017 Criminal justice, Ipa tv,

Andrew Bushnell explains the impact our work on criminal justice has had in 2017.

IPA TODAY

How To Stop A Crime Wave

Andrew Bushnell Started 22 October 2017 Criminal justice, Ipa today,

In politics, the range of ideas that the public will accept is known as the Overton Window. Ideas from outside the window can shift the public discourse, changing what people think of as normal...

Criminal Justice

BECOME A MEMBER of IPA