Violent Crimes in Australia: Intimate Partner Abuse and Juvenile/Youth Sexual Offending

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Violent crime in Australia continues to be a pervasive problem affecting millions of individuals and costing billions of dollars annually. Persistent media portrayal of violent crime, such as the 2018 Melbourne Crime Wave, has increased public awareness of personal safety and renewed political interest in violent crime. As the result of this increased awareness and political interest, new avenues to address violent crime, especially ways of adequately identifying and responding to violent offenders, are necessary. In a demonstration of newly emerging research areas in an Australian context, this panel explores two forms of violent crime including intimate partner violence and youth sexual offending. Intimate partner violence is examined through the effectiveness of empowering victims, online media, and online media comments reflecting underlying societal attitudes. Youth sexual offending is examined in relation to the effectiveness of existing sexual recidivism risk assessment measures for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth who sexually harm.

Sub Unit

• Area IV. Types of Offending / 10. Violent Crime

Division of Special Interests

• Division Session of Interest / Division of International Criminology

• Division Session of Interest / Division on Women & Crime

Individual Presentations

• Constructing Intimate Partner Homicide Online? An Analysis of the Representation of Intimate Partner Homicide in Online Media - Emily Waters, Griffith University

• Are Victim Services Empowering Intimate Partner Abuse Victims? - Annie Smith, Griffith University

• Examining the Effectiveness of Specialist Assessment and Treatment for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Youth Who Sexually Harm - Timea Molnar, Griffith University

Chair

• Emily Waters, Griffith University