Rappler’s Post

"Coercive control will become a criminal offence and removing a condom without consent will be considered rape under historic laws passed by Queensland parliament [on 6 March 2024]. Under sweeping reform passed in an omnibus bill on Wednesday, coercive control will become a criminal offence in 2025 and attract a maximum penalty of 14 years. Queensland is the second jurisdiction [after NSW] to move towards criminalising coercive control – a pattern of behaviours that is highly correlated with the risk of domestic harm and homicide. The behaviours can include emotional, psychological and economic abuse, isolation, intimidation, sexual coercion and cyberstalking"... https://lnkd.in/gt6_QVvN

To continue the theme of "Meet the Barristers" Please meet Abigail Nixon. Her areas of specialism are Drugs & Gang-Related Offences, Murder & Manslaughter, Sexual Offences For more information visit our website https://lnkd.in/eR5yzu4a #womenInlaw #barristerspotlight #meetthebarristers #legalexpertise

'The Role of Alcohol in Initial Help-Seeking Telephone Calls About Domestic Violence to the Police' has now been published in Violence Against Women. In this paper we show how and when even seemingly routine information-seeking questions about alcohol consumption shape the subsequent trajectory of an encounter and may contribute to feelings of blame or being disbelieved for those reporting DVA to the police. It's open access and you can read it here: https://lnkd.in/gT63-zW5

On the eleventh anniversary of the Nirbhaya gang rape and fatal assault, a timely assessment of whether the criminal justice system has changed for the better. https://lnkd.in/gMPJ2puZ

The criminal system going nuts. https://lnkd.in/gxvkaPPu

Cuckooing will become a criminal offence in England and Wales. Cuckooing is a term used when someone’s house is taken over for criminal activity, including dealing drugs or carrying out sex work. It involves unscrupulous criminals exploiting vulnerable individuals by using their properties to store drugs or weapons, turning their homes into places of fear and abuse. A new amendment (clause 94) to the Criminal Justice Bill will be introduced, creating a new standalone offence, after cuckooing has become a rapidly growing issue in the UK affecting the most vulnerable in our society. This offence criminalises the control, whether exercised by means of coercion or otherwise, over a person’s home for the purpose of using it as a base to commit specified criminal activity. The specified offences are listed in the new schedule and they include drugs offences, sexual offences and offensive weapons crimes. The crime will be publishable by up to 5 years in prison. https://lnkd.in/eEKsUdVv

Coming into the criminal justice system and being confronted with people who use different language (complainant not victim) is traumatic. Victims of crime can start to think that they are not believed or that there is something wrong or weak with their evidence. Make sure that your loved one understands the reasons for the use of different words and it’s nothing to do with their credibility or believability. It’s to ensure that justice is done. Head to our website to find more tips and helpful suggestions

I was interviewed by NBC on how the criminal justice system fails survivors of sexual assault. What didn't make the cut - it was my civil attorney that EASILY found the evidence the prosecutor claimed didn't exist. I have spoke to literally thousands of survivors over the last 17 years (I used to average 1,000 survivors annually). Typically, survivors only seek a civil attorney when the criminal justice system fails them. AND 99% are not even seeking money and do not understand that is what civil attorneys fight for survivors. Every survivor is seeking justice and accountability. Yes, the civil burden of proof is much lower than the criminal burden of proof so we can deliver civil justice more often than criminal justice. However, from my personal and professional experience, I firmly believe there is often evidence to be found when detectives claim it is a "he said/she said" case (the worst description ever). Research and experience shows offenders rarely have one victim. If we (advocates, researchers, preventionists) can identify clear patterns of grooming, boundary crossing, red flags, and other potential victims then the people who are sworn to protect and serve should be able to as well. https://lnkd.in/dcfpkcUa