Research + Projects

The CIJ undertakes research and makes submissions on the themes of restorative justice, family violence, women's decarceration and systemic reform. We work in partnership with the justice sector, government and justice system users, as well as independently.

Project
Family Violence

More than just a piece of paper – Getting protection orders made in a safe and supported way

This project looks at improving the process which occurs when parties negotiate and agree to the conditions of a Family Violence Intervention Order before it is formally ordered by a court.

Read more Download publication
Project
Family Violence

Pathways Towards Accountability

Mapping the journeys of perpetrators of family violence and the roles and responsibilities of services and agencies.

Read more Download publication
Submission
Systemic Reform

Inquiry into Restitution and Compensation Orders

The CIJ has provided a submission to the Sentencing Advisory Council’s (SAC) inquiry into Restitution and Compensation Orders.

Read more Download publication
Evaluation
Family Violence

Court Support 4 Kids

This project evaluates a program that supports women who come to court seeking Family Violence Intervention Orders while accompanied by their children. This page includes the project's two final publications: a Needs Assessment and an Evaluation.

Read more Download publication
Project
Family Violence

Counselling Order Review – Beyond ‘getting him to a program’

The CIJ has reviewed the processes that enable Victoria's specialist Family Violence Courts to order perpetrators of family violence to participate in Men's Behaviour Change Programs.

Read more Download publication
Project
Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice Practices WorkSafe

The CIJ has been engaged by WorkSafe to identify opportunities to use restorative justice practices for injured workers in WorkSafe's claims and enforcement processes.

Read more
Project
Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice Practices TAC

The CIJ has been commissioned by the TAC to design and pilot a model of Restorative Justice practices that would add to the suite of options available to meet the complex needs of supported recovery clients.

Read more
Project
Restorative Justice

Restorative engagement program at RMIT University

The CIJ is supporting RMIT to implement a Restorative Engagement Program in response to historical cases of sexual assault and harassment at the university.

Read more
Report
Disability Justice

Recognition, Respect and Support: Enabling justice for people with an Acquired Brain Injury

The Acquired Brain Injury project researched, explored and identified ways to address the over-incarceration of people with an acquired brain injury.

Read more Download publication
Submission
Family Violence

Australian Law Reform Commission’s Review of the Family Law System

The CIJ's targeted submission to this review focused on the experience of those using the family law system who have experienced family violence.

Read more Download publication
Submission
Systemic Reform

Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory

The CIJ provided a submission into the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in NT which argues that the detention of children and young people should not be countenanced.

Read more Download publication
Project
Systemic Reform

Socialising the law: Combining social work and legal skills in a changing justice sector

This is a ground-breaking cross-disciplinary study looking at the respective skills of lawyers and social workers and how these different skills can usefully be combined in order to deliver a holistic service that meet clients’ needs.

Read more
Submission
Restorative Justice

Coronial Council Appeals Review

The CIJ made a submission to the Coronial Council Appeals Review proposing restorative justice program for the coronial system.

Read more Download publication
Submission
Systemic Reform

Victorian Law Reform Commission – Review of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996

The CIJ provided a submission to the Victorian Law Reform - Review of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996, which looks at the background and the opportunities to correct these failures.

Read more Download publication
Image of man at a pokie machine
Report
Systemic Reform

Compulsion, convergence or crime?

Contact with the criminal justice system as a form of gambling harm.

Read more Download publication
Project
Systemic Reform

Access to Justice Through Technology

Accessible justice continues to be an ongoing problem in Australia. However, the new and expanding area of design thinking, the use of legal apps and innovative technology in the law is starting to address this.

Read more
Report
Systemic Reform

Integrating the Indefensible – What Role Should the Community Play?

The Centre was commissioned to provide a theoretical and evidence base for community based support and supervision of serious violent offenders.

Read more Download publication
Report

Student research project: A Federal Charter of Human Rights

RMIT JD students authored a report for the Australian Human Rights Commission exploring and evaluating the effect that a federal Charter of Human Rights would have had on the outcomes of significant Australian cases and laws.

Read more Download publication
Report
Family Violence

Swift, Certain and Fair Sentencing of family violence offenders

The CIJ has provided a submission to the Sentencing Advisory Council’s (SAC) review into Swift, Certain and Fair Sentencing of family violence offenders.

Read more Download publication
Project
Family Violence

Setting the Foundation for Compliance

Improving Comprehension and Compliance with Family Violence Intervention Orders.

Read more
Submission
Systemic Reform

Victorian Law Reform Commission Review: The role of victims in the criminal trial process

This submission argues that the adversarial trial process is failing victims and offenders alike.

Read more Download publication
Report
Systemic Reform

Justice Index

The CIJ has conducted initial scoping work to explore the ways in which the performance of justice experiences are measured, as well as experienced by users.

Read more
Submission
Family Violence

Family Violence Royal Commission

The Mental Health’s Legal Centre Inside Access program through collaboration with the CIJ provided a submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

Read more Download publication
Report
Family Violence

Opportunities for early intervention: bringing perpetrators of family violence into view

This report turns the spotlight on perpetrators of family violence.

Read more Download publication