News

• Sexual exploitation in Australia: Victim-survivor support needs and barriers to support provision (November 2023)
• Alternative reporting options for sexual assault: Perspectives of victim-survivors (November 2023)
• Examining emerging fraud facilitated by the internet through crime scripts (November 2023)

Upcoming event

• Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network (CSARRN) Inaugural workshop
  Adelaide, 4 - 5 December 2023
  Child sexual abuse is a complex and harmful crime type that requires multi-sector collaboration to address. This workshop will bring together leading researchers and practitioners from around the world to share their research on combatting child sexual abuse, and foster new connections. The workshop will cover a wide range of relevant topics, including understanding offender behaviour patterns and pathways, new investigatory methods and approaches, artificial intelligence and machine learning, the use of offender-based interventions and prevention initiatives, as well as the provision of support to victim-survivors. 
• Copyright © 2023 Australian Institute of Criminology, All rights reserved.
  https://www.aic.gov.au/about-us/web-privacy-policy-summary

(2023-R010 / 2023-S010)

Now available on Public Safety Canada’s website

Report

Summary

This literature review provides a comprehensive summary of methods commonly used to prevent corruption in both the private and public sectors and where possible, provides insight on which preventative methods have empirical value and demonstrated effectiveness.

Several key findings were identified, including:

• Four main approaches to preventing corruption are highlighted. Namely, these include: 1) value-based approaches; 2) compliance-based approaches; 3) risk management approaches; and, 4) awareness and participation-based approaches. Within these four approaches, 18 specific corruption prevention methods are examined and assessed;
• Findings demonstrate wide variability in the empirical effectiveness of existing prevention methods;
• Findings demonstrate: 1) the tone at the top principle 2) ethics training programs; 3) top-down auditing; 4) merit-based recruitment; 5) E-government; and, 6) freedom of the press all show signs of empirical effectiveness;
• The literature demonstrates mixed results regarding: 1) intrinsic motivations; 2) extrinsic motivations; 3) bottom-up monitoring; 4) public awareness campaigns; and, 5) freedom of information laws;
• The four-eyes principle was the only method found to be effective, with the remaining methods lacking sufficient evidence to support their use; and
• Analysis of the finding points towards the conclusion that organizations should seek to develop compliance programs and anti-corruption strategies that: 1) involve multiple evidence-based methods; 2) tailor prevention methods to meet the specific needs and context of the organization.

• (2023-R010 / 2023-S010)

  Now available on Public Safety Canada’s website

  Report

  Summary

  This literature review provides a comprehensive summary of methods commonly used to prevent corruption in both the private and public sectors and where possible, provides insight on which preventative methods have empirical value and demonstrated effectiveness.

  Several key findings were identified, including:

• Four main approaches to preventing corruption are highlighted. Namely, these include: 1) value-based approaches; 2) compliance-based approaches; 3) risk management approaches; and, 4) awareness and participation-based approaches. Within these four approaches, 18 specific corruption prevention methods are examined and assessed;
• Findings demonstrate wide variability in the empirical effectiveness of existing prevention methods;
• Findings demonstrate: 1) the tone at the top principle 2) ethics training programs; 3) top-down auditing; 4) merit-based recruitment; 5) E-government; and, 6) freedom of the press all show signs of empirical effectiveness;
• The literature demonstrates mixed results regarding: 1) intrinsic motivations; 2) extrinsic motivations; 3) bottom-up monitoring; 4) public awareness campaigns; and, 5) freedom of information laws;
• The four-eyes principle was the only method found to be effective, with the remaining methods lacking sufficient evidence to support their use; and
• Analysis of the finding points towards the conclusion that organizations should seek to develop compliance programs and anti-corruption strategies that: 1) involve multiple evidence-based methods; 2) tailor prevention methods to meet the specific needs and context of the organization.

• (2023-R010 / 2023-S010)

  Now available on Public Safety Canada’s website

  Report

  Summary

  This literature review provides a comprehensive summary of methods commonly used to prevent corruption in both the private and public sectors and where possible, provides insight on which preventative methods have empirical value and demonstrated effectiveness.

  Several key findings were identified, including:

• Four main approaches to preventing corruption are highlighted. Namely, these include: 1) value-based approaches; 2) compliance-based approaches; 3) risk management approaches; and, 4) awareness and participation-based approaches. Within these four approaches, 18 specific corruption prevention methods are examined and assessed;
• Findings demonstrate wide variability in the empirical effectiveness of existing prevention methods;

Link to: Deaths in custody in Australia 2022-23

Data from the most recent National Deaths in Custody Program Statistical Report Deaths in custody in Australia 2022–23 shows that:

• In the 32 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody to 30 June 2023, there have been 545 Indigenous deaths in custody.
• In 2022–23, there were 110 deaths in custody: 70 in prison custody and 40 in police custody and custody-related operations.

Thirty-one deaths in custody in 2022‒23 were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people—21 deaths in prison custody and 10 deaths in police custody. Of the 79 non-Indigenous deaths in custody, 49 were in prison custody and 30 in police custody.

Link to: Child maltreatment and criminal justice system involvement in Australia: Findings from a national survey

The AIC has released new research by the Queensland University of Technology which analysed data from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, a nationally representative survey of 8,500 Australians asking about experiences of all five child maltreatment types.

• Respondents who had experienced any child maltreatment were more likely to be arrested and convicted, and men maltreated as children were more likely to be imprisoned.
• Stronger associations were found for those who had experienced three or more types of child maltreatment.

Findings will be of significant interest to policymakers and practitioners involved in understanding and preventing child sexual abuse and developing rehabilitation programs for offenders.

Copyright © 2023 Australian Institute of Criminology, All rights reserved