Court Hierarchy
What is the name of the lowest court in the Queensland Court Hierarchy?
Magistrates Court
What is the definition for the term 'defendant'?
The individual appearing in Court charged with an offence.
What is a stakeholder?
A stakeholder is an individual or a group of individuals with an interest in an issue.
Who is Dylan Voller and what happened to him?
Dylan Voller is an Aboriginal Australian who was a detainee at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in the Northern Territory. He became widely known due to the exposure of his mistreatment while in detention. While at Don Dale, Dylan Voller was subjected to severe mistreatment, including being restrained in a spit hood, placed in solitary confinement, and exposed to harsh conditions.
Name two courts which may have a jury present?
What is the definition for the term 'bail'?
The release of a person who has been charged with, but not yet convicted or acquitted of, a criminal offence
What happens in the Magistrates Court if you plead not guilty to a minor offence?
When you plead not guilty in a Magistrates Court, your matter is listed for trial, which can be months ahead. At the trial, the magistrate will hear from all witnesses and decide if you are guilty or not guilty.
What is a juvenile detention centre?
A juvenile detention centre is a short-term residential facility that houses youth offenders while they are awaiting court hearings or placement in a long-term program.
Which court would a trial for murder be held in?
Supreme Court
What is the definition for the term 'custody'?
Being detained, by either the police or in prison.
If you were stopped for a random breath test and refused, what would happen to you?
In Queensland, refusing a breath test can lead to a six-month licence disqualification, a fine of 60 penalty units or up to six months imprisonment.
Explain in your own words how a juvenile detention centre is supposed to run.
Young people are to follow a routine that includes going to school, as well as taking part in activities and programs. They are supplied clothing, shoes and everything they need. They will have a routine to follow daily with set times for morning showers, meals, programs
What can you do if you are found guilty in the District Court and you disagree with the verdict?
Appeal to the Supreme Court
What is the definition for assault?
The act of striking, touching, or applying force to another person without their consent.
Explain the difficulties newly released prisoners face when they are released from prison.
Newly released prisoners face problems finding housing, employment and acceptance within the community as an ex-prisoner. Many struggle to adjust to the level of personal responsibility needed and many commit crimes so they are sent back to prison where they have a roof over their head, food and a sense of belonging.
Who are the stakeholders in the Dylan Voller case?
- Dylan Voller and other affected detainees, who experienced the mistreatment firsthand.
- Don Dale Youth Detention Centre staff and management, who are responsible for the conditions and treatment within the facility.
- Government officials and policymakers, who are involved in overseeing and reforming the juvenile justice system.
- Human rights organizations and advocates, who work to ensure the protection and fair treatment of detainees.
- The general public, whose awareness and reactions influence policy changes and reforms.
Which court would hear a civil case over a contract worth $400,000?
District Court
What is the definition for a 'law'?
A system of rules which a particular country or state recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties. Laws are made by those with the authority to do so (courts/parliament, they have a consequence, and the purpose is to regulate behaviour).
Identify and explain three factors that contribute to the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the prison system.
-disengaging from school and lack of educational attainment
-disability
-unemployment
-poor mental health
-substance abuse
-poor housing and homelessness
-racism
-intergenerational trauma
-child protection issues
-being subject to or witness to family violence and abuse
What did the Four Corners report into Don Dale Detention Centre lead to?
The release of the videos led to widespread outrage and public scrutiny. It prompted calls for investigations into the conditions and practices at the detention centre, and in 2016 it led to the Royal Commission into The Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.