Web resource:	https://aifs.gov.au/resources/practice-guides/acssa-aware
Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Sexual offences law and procedure
Other Titles:	Aware : Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault newsletter
Authors:	Heenan, Melanie
Keywords:	Legislation analysis;Criminal justice responses;Sexual assault;Policing
Year:	2005
Publisher:	Australian Institute of Family Studies
Citation:	5, January 2005
Notes:	Representing the Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault (ACCSA), Heenan reviews the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s final report into Sexual Offences: Law and Procedure:and also considers the Sexual Offences Interim Report:. Drawing on the final report’s 201 recommendations, the article discusses three key areas relevant to adult sexual assault: the police response; cross-examination by the accused; and specialisation within the legal system. In both the preliminary and final reports, the Commission suggested extensive changes to the structure and content of police training, especially for detectives. While receiving a majority of submissions calling for changes to the law which allows defendants to cross-examine complainants, the Commission weighed against them the opposing views of the Victorian Bar and the Criminal Bar Association, but ultimately proposed that the accused be prohibited form cross-examining the complainant. In the area of specialisation, the Interim Report:advances the creation of a specialist stand-alone court and/or specialist lists operating within an existing court structure, but the final report suggests that a pilot specialist list be trialed only in cases of child sexual assault due to limited resources.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12763
ISSN:	1448-8140
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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