Dr Clare Farmer presents at ANZSOC
Dr Clare Farmer
Deakin criminologist, Dr Clare Farmer, presented two papers at the recent Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Conference at Hobart, Tasmania.
Details of the papers are as follows:
- The first paper presented preliminary findings from a joint research project with the School of Law, Deakin University. The research is examining the level of consistency in sentencing for the same offences in different locations in Victoria. Early findings, from an analysis of sentencing data from over 71,000 offences in four different Magistrates’ Court locations, point to a discernible level of inconsistency. The presentation discussed implications for the ‘instinctive synthesis’ approach to sentencing in Victoria arising from these preliminary findings, and outlined the next steps for the research.
- The second paper outlined a joint research project with the School of Psychology, Deakin University. The project, which is extending Dr Farmer’s doctoral research, is examining the proliferation of alcohol-related patron banning across Australian jurisdictions. Banning, as a response to alcohol-related disorder, continues to be extended, but in a seemingly ad hoc and inconsistent manner. The actual effect of the various banning provisions is largely assumed, and subject to very limited scrutiny. The presentation drew together relevant police-imposed patron and area banning legislation across Australia, examined key differences and similarities, and considered how the absence of effective oversight of the various provisions highlights a lack clarity regarding the development and scrutiny of discretionary police powers to punish.