Conference Program

DAY 1 8.30-9.00am Registration P LEN AR Y SESSI ON Room 133: 9.00-9.20am 9.20-11.00am Welcome to Country: Mr Steve Widders, Armidale City Council Keynote Address: Urba nce ntric Crime Mea surem ent , Viole nce & t he Ar c hitect ure of R ural Life Professor Kerry Carrington, and Associate Professor Russell Hogg, University of New England Morning Tea CO N CU RRE NT W OR KS HO PS Worksho p 1: Cr im e, Justice and Indi genous Pe ople Room 1 33 Convener: Dr John Scott: University of New England Crime in Rural Communities: An Indigenous Perspective - Gayle Kennedy: NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council The health of young rural people on community orders - Paul Nelson: University of Sydney Security Audit of the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust - Alan Redshaw: Victorian Police

11.00-11.30am 11.30a m- 1.00 pm

Worksho p 2: Agricul tural and Env iron menta l C ri me Room 1 37 Convener: Dr Elaine Barclay: Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England Environmental Crime: The "other" tree change in the Australian rural sector - Robyn Bartel: University of New England Horizon scanning rural crime - agroterrorism an emerging threat? - Richard Byrne: Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shropshire, UK Judging the Effectiveness of Anti-Poaching Hotlines - Egan Green: Radford University Virginia, USA

Worksho p 3: Drug an d A lcohol U se an d Mi suse R oom 138 Convener: Professor Ralph Weisheit: Illinois State University Methamphetamine in North Dakota, A Law Enforcement Perspective - Rodney Hair: Minot University North Dakota, USA Policing illicit drug use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities - Judy Putt: Australian Institute of Criminology and Brendan Delahunty: NSW Ombudsman Substance use and young rural offenders - Paul Nelson: University of Sydney- Co authors: Dianna Kenny, Tony Butler, Chris Lennings, Mark Allerton, Una Champion Worksho p 4: Methods, modelin g and m easur em ent in crime res ea rch Room 139 Convener: Dr Ian Reeve Institute for Rural Futures University of New England City vs Country Some contemporary trends and issues emerging from NSW recorded crime statistics - Steve Moffat: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Crime, place and explaining rural hotspots - Rob Mawby: University of Plymouth UK 1.002.00pm 2.00- 3.30 pm Lunch CO N CU RRE NT W OR KS HO PS W orksho p 5: Cr im e Prev ention in Rura l Co m muniti es Ro om 13 3 Convener: Policing Partnerships - Collaborative Intervention, Response and Problem Solving to achieve greater outcomes for Youth - Jodie Gregg-Smith: SA Police Building Safer Communities Action Teams: local crime prevention building safer communities - John Mallet: Qld Dept of Communities Crime Stoppers as a party line to the bush telegraph - Alan McLean: Crime Stoppers Victoria W orksho p 6: Rural Po licing Room 137 Convener: Professor Rob Mawby Auditing police work in local Aboriginal communities - Brendan Delahunty: and Vince Scott, NSW Ombudsman Policing domestic violence in rural communities - Julianna Demetrius - NSW Ombudsman Policing Industrial Conflict in Rural Settings: Local and Outside Approaches - David Baker: Monash University

W orksho p 7: Cr im e, Justice and Indi genous Pe ople Room 1 38 Convener: Associate Professor Russell Hogg, University of New England Applying a communitarian model of restorative justice and therapeutic jurisprudence: a social research project in Roebourne WA - Brian Steels: Centre for Social and Community Research, Murdoch University Restorative justice and its impact on the re-offending of juveniles in regional and remote Australia: A Northern Territory perspective - Teresa Cunningham: Central Queensland University The Impact on Aboriginal people of the lack of community based sentencing options in rural New South Wales - John McKenzie and Sharyn Omeri: Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) W orksho p 8: Rural co m munity structur e an d cri me Room 1 39 Convener: Dr Melissa Bull Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Organisation and Regulation of Rural Prostitution - John Scott Crime in rural Northern Ireland - Neville Armstrong: Northern Ireland Community Safety Unit Safety and Security within Caravan Parks - Elaine Barclay: University of New England and Rob Mawby: University of Plymouth 3.30-4.00pm 4.00-4.30pm Afternoon Tea Strategic Directions for Preventing Crime in Rural Australia; Plenary Session and Discussion Panel Convener: Rapporteur Report: Professor Ralph Weisheit: Illinois State University C onfere nce Di nner Echidna Gully

4.30-4.45pm 7.00pm

DAY 2 8.30-9.00am Registration P LEN AR Y SESSI ON Room 133: 9.00-10.00am Keynote Address Rural Crime : Roo ts a nd Re storatio n Professor Joseph Donnermeyer: Ohio State University The Growi ng Problem of M eth amp het amin e Professor Ralph Weisheit: Illinois State University Morning Tea CO N CU RRE NT W OR KS HO PS W orksho p 9: V iol ent C ri me in rural com muniti es Room 133 Convener: Professor Kerry Carrington The Geography of Violent Crime: Social Disorganization, Social Disorder, and Rural Communities across the United States - Sheryl Van Horne: Penn State University, US Dead in the water?: Why violent crime prevention research isnt working for rural communities and what to do about it - Erica Bell: University of Tasmania W orksho p 1 0: Drug and Alcohol Use and Misuse Room 137 Convener: Professor Ralph Weisheit: Illinois State University Alcohol and Drug Problems in Rural and Regional Australia - Melissa Bull: Griffith University Criminality Among Rural OxyContin Users - Carl Leukefeld: University of Kentucky, US; Co authors: Jennifer Havens & Robert Walker W orksho p 1 1: Agr icultura l an d Environ ment al Cri m e Roo m 138 Convener: Dr Elaine Barclay: Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England Telephoning Fish: An Examination of the Creative Deviance Used by Wildlife Poachers - Egan Green: Radford University Virginia The impacts of and responses to fisheries crime in the Murray Darling Basin - Neville Fowler and Murray Donaldson: Fisheries Victoria Reining in Rural Crime - Assistant Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, Bron Steel, Rural Crime Investigators DSC Michael Burns and Damian Nott, NSW Police Rural Crime Unit 1.00-2.00pm 2.00- 4.30 pm Lunch Fie ld tri p on Far m Cri me Prev ention to loc al pro pe rty Conveners: Brendan Doyle and Chris Weber: Institute for Rural Futures

10.00-11.00am

11.00-11.30am 11.00 -1.00 pm

2.00- 3.30 pm

PLEN AR Y SESSIO N: T h e crim inal just ice syst em in rural ar eas Roo m 133 Convener: Professor Rob Mawby: University of Plymouth Punishment In Rural & Regional Australia - Russell Hogg: University of New England Cyclone Larry's Rewards? Prisoners, Reintegration and Quality of Life - Gary Coventry: James Cook University Demography and Prisoner Profiles on Risk Needs & Risk Assessment at the Stuart Prison, 2004 -2006 - Sue Bandaranaike and Gary Coventry: James Cook University

3.30-4.00pm 4.00- 4.40 pm

Afternoon Tea PLEN AR Y SESSI O N: ( continue d): The c ri minal jus tice syst em in rura l area s Convener: Professor Russell Hogg: University of New England Circle Sentencing - Steve Widders, Brian Dennison: Armidale Circle Sentencing

4.40-4.45pm

Rapporteur Report: Professor Joe Donnermeyer: Ohio State University Close

Keynote Addresses
Urba nce ntric Crime Mea surem ent , Viole nce & t he Ar c hitect ure of R ural Life - Pro fes sor Ke rry Ca rrin gton and Associ ate Prof essor Rus sel l Hogg, Univ ers ity of Ne w England Because crime victim surveys do not generally capture spatialised data outside urban centres or major capitals, these measures of crime have inadvertently perpetuated the myth that rural communities are less violent than urban localities. This myth is also linked to the idea that violence is antithetical to an imagined but idealist conception of the rural Australian heartland as a relatively crime free territory. It is also the case that such violence is far less likely to attract police or public attention, outside intervention and official recognition in crime measures thus underestimating the extent of violent victimisation that occurs in rural communities. This keynote address debunks these mythical conceptions of rurality, critically analyses the use of popular crime victimisation measures, and provides a national overview of the available and most current recorded crime data for measuring crime in Australias states and territories broken down into regions and localities. The data is limited, has reliability issues, and lots of gaps. Nevertheless it is the only data that captures the spatialised distribution of crime in rural communities. When analysed according to offence type (in particular violence versus property offences) a picture emerges that departs significantly from what most scholars and policy makers have commonly and too confidently assumed about the prevalence of violence and rural communities.

Rural Crime : Roo ts a nd Re storatio n - P rof esso r Joe Donner mey er: Ohio Stat e Un ive rsity USA A well-known public figure once said: All politics is local. As well, the same can be said about understanding rural crime. Indeed, the economic, social and cultural context that defines the uniqueness of each rural community in Australia, England, the United States or any other country in the world, is important for understanding both the roots of crime and how to go about preventing crime. However, local context is greatly influenced by national and international factors. This presentation takes a comparative approach to the examination of rural crime, linking broad social and economic change to the understanding of crime's roots in rural communities around the world. By doing so, it challenges age-old presumptions about the nature of rurality and crime; myths that still hold firm in the minds of the public, politicians, policy-makers, media pundits, the police, and professors who study crime. Without substantial myth-busting, restoration through the appropriate application of various crime prevention strategies is not possible.

The Growi ng Problem of M eth amp het amin e - Prof essor Ral ph Wei sheit: I llinoi s Stat e Uni ver sity USA Methamphetamine has become a growing concern in many parts of the world. In the Asia Pacific region it is the number one drug problem and there are reports that it is rapidly expanding in Australia and New Zealand. Found nowhere in nature, methamphetamine is a synthetic drug that can be easily manufactured with household chemicals and limited expertise. This presentation will examine the drugs effects, the process by which the drug is manufactured and distributed, issues regarding treatment, and the impact of methamphetamine on rural communities.

General Abstracts
Crime in rur al Norther n Ireland Nev ill e Ar mst rong Northe rn Ir elan d Com munity Sa fety Unit The onset of peace in rural Northern Ireland has brought with it many social and economic benefits. In Co Fermanagh these benefits have been balanced by the growing menace of crime in rural areas. Reduced security patrolling, fewer police on the ground and the closure of many rural Police Stations have done much to undermine confidence in the criminal justice system and force many rural dwellers to step up security in their homes and farms. Older people living alone or in isolated communities have also been affected by the development of a new phenomenon fear of crime which has had a direct impact on older peoples quality of life and in particular their health. Yet recent research conducted in two rural communities in Fermanagh shows high levels of unreported crime and a high level of community cohesion in response to crime. This research was conducted across Fermanagh and included focus group work, survey and in depth interviews with rural communities, older people, farmers and professional people working within the community. The research sought to be relevant, methodical and useful toward building up an accurate picture of the impact of rural crime in Co Fermanagh. The research undertaken shows communities in change, frustrated and challenged by the growing levels of rural crime. Many rural dwellers are finding the traditional ways of dealing with that crime ineffective and impotent. This has a significant impact on many rural dwellers confidence and does much to undermine their vision for the future of rural living within the county.

Policing Ind ustrial Confli ct in R ural Setti ngs : Loc al a nd Ou tside Ap proac hes Davi d B ake r Monash Univ ers ity This paper examines the policing of pickets and lockouts in rural and regional settings. Shearing-sheds, mines and wharves were the workplaces where workers have been the most disposed to use brute force to settle industrial disputes in Australia. Traditionally, whenever employer or government requested police intervention in smashing picket lines, the police response was often swift, legalistic, forceful and at times brutal. By examining some historical and contemporary case-studies of the policing of industrial disputes in rural and regional areas, this paper argues that the confrontation between police and unionists has often been affected by the relationship between police and local workers and by the composition of the police body employed against the picketers. Whether the police involved have been, or are, local or outside constabulary is a significant factor in the processes and sometimes the outcome of the dispute. In terms of preventing violence at pickets, police leaders need to carefully consider the composition of those police used to control an industrial dispute in a rural community. Similarly, union organisers and picket captains must discourage certain individual behaviours at the picket. After the dispute is settled, as all are eventually, local police remain in the town; the workers do too, but capital and outside forces are much more mobile. In many situations, local police, immersed in the community, are better placed than outsiders but there are circumstances when an outside force may be more appropriate to deal with the dispute.

Demo grap hy a nd Prisoner Profiles on Risk Need s & Ri sk Assess men t at th e Stuart Priso n, 200 4 -2006 Sue Ban dar anaik e & Gary Covent ry Jame s Co ok Un ive rsity While several government publications, including the Australian Bureau of Statistics, publish aggregate interstate data on select prisoner characteristics there is minimum information available on patterns of prisoner demographics and needs and risk assessment within specific prisons. Prisoner characteristics and criminogenic assessment varies regionally depending on the location of the prison and its catchment area. This research is part of a larger project on prisoner trends, needs and risk assessment of inmates at the Stuart Prison in Townsville between 2004 and 2006. This paper is based on phase I of that project and is a preliminary analysis of the data set which focuses on the demographic structure and outlines the criminogenic needs of the prisoners and their risk to the public. Townsville, with its expansive rural hinterland, has a substantial proportion of its prisoners originating in rural and remote communities and also holds a very large proportion of those with an Indigenous background. Spatial and temporal variations in age, gender, marital status, education level, employment status, place of residence, religion, ethnicity and nationality are analysed and correlated with criminogenic needs and risk assessment. The research outcomes of this study will provide the basis for focus group research regarding the kinds of future programs most needed at Stuart prison to address both the needs and risks of prisoners, particularly in rural and remote communities.

Safety a nd Sec urity withi n C ara va n Parks Elaine Barc lay, Uni ver sity of Ne w En glan d an d Ro b Ma wby, Uni ve rsity o f Plymouth Caravan parks and caravanning are established features of Australian life. They comprise a significant sector of the national and international tourism industry, but at the same time the number of long term and permanent residents is increasing. Despite the proven association between crime risks and the type and location of residential property, little or no research has been carried out on crime on caravan parks. As part of a broader comparison of park crime in England and Australia, a study of crime and safety within caravan parks was conducted in rural and coastal areas in two states in Australia. Interviews were conducted with park managers, permanent residents, tourists, police and security guards. In general, crime was not considered a major issue on parks, although some aspects of anti-social behaviour, such as trespassing by groups of youths, was a concern. Anti-social behaviour was particularly associated with government supported temporary social housing. Petty theft was the most common crime reported. This paper focuses on four key questions: How do caravan parks differ from one another, in terms of their design, location, clientele etc? How much of a problem is crime and anti-social behaviour on caravan parks? How does the extent of crime and disorder on parks vary according to the nature of the park, its design, location and clientele How might safety be improved?

En vironm ent al Crime : T he "ot her" tree ch an ge in t he Australia n rural sect or Robyn Bart el Unive rsity o f Ne w Engl and This paper will present an analysis of the other tree change in the rural sector: the major regulatory shift that has occurred with regard to the regulation of land clearance. Land clearance regulations make unpermitted clearance of native vegetation a criminal act, and have affected many private landholders in rural regions. Three communities in particular have experienced great challenges when approaching compliance to this new and evolving area of regulation. Both the regulated and regulator communities have shown resistance and regulatory theorists also have found their models tested by this unique area of compliance. This paper will map the past and forecast a future for this new and unique area of rural crime. The rise in appreciation and awareness of environmental crime over the past few decades appears to be affecting a real questioning of the assumptions commonly held in Australia about land management, land ownership, criminal behaviour and effective monitoring and enforcement.

De ad in the w ater W hy violent crime preve ntio n res earch i sn t workin g for rural comm u nities and w hat to do ab out it Erica B ell Unive rsity o f T asm ania Why isnt violent crime prevention research working to help police, community leaders, and policy-makers in rural communities? This paper aims to describe the potential of an innovative transdisciplinary research method (Quali-Quantitative Analysis QQA) for delivering what existing research isnt. The paper first reviews the international literature on violent crime prevention. It examines the strengths and weakness of the dominant methodologies used in violent crime prevention research, particularly for meeting the needs of rural communities. Analysis is then made of the literature associated with the global research movement QualiQuantitative Analysis (QQA) begun by Charles Ragin. The QQA approach is explained, and how it could be applied to the challenges of violent crime prevention in rural communities. The paper concludes that violent crime prevention research relies either on traditional quantitative or qualitative approaches, and exhibits the weaknesses of both: either a lack of contextual richness or a lack of reliability and generalisability. This has meant that violent crime prevention doesnt have a rich evidence base that rigorously captures the true configurational nature of violent crimes i.e. the ways in which individual, situational, and community factors work synergistically to produce violent crime. Crime prevention strategies for rural communities have suffered particularly from this lack of innovative techniques for studying the anatomy of single cases, and small numbers of cases, occurring in small-N populations. The QQA approach is a configurational methodology particularly suited to the study of such cases, drawing on the strengths of qualitative and quantitative traditions to overcome the limitations of both.

Reining i n R ural Crime Assist ant C om miss ione r Ste ve Bra dsh a w, B ron St eel, Rural C ri me In vest igato rs DS C Micha el Burns an d D am ian Not t, NSW Po lice Rural Cri me Unit The 1990s saw significant increases in the value of stock, together with an anecdotal increase in the incidence of rural crime. Independent research by Barclay and the Australian Institute of Criminology in 2001 indicated that many of these incidents went unreported for a variety of reasons including a perception that police expertise in rural crime investigation had declined. In 2001, NSW Police made a very public commitment to redress this perceived neglect, principally through the appointment of 33 dedicated Rural Crime Investigators (RCIs) in 26 country commands. The pastoral and agricultural industry is characterised by unpredictable natural and market forces as well as demographic and legislative changes. Despite these, NSW Police is continuing to work with and learn from those it serves, to ensure the continuous improvement of its response to rural crime. This presentation will discuss the impact and challenges presented by these unique features on both police and the rural community.

Alcohol and Dru g Problems i n Rur al a nd Regio nal A ust ralia Me lis sa Bu ll Gri ffith Univ ers ity Recently there has been growing concern that current strategies for responding to alcohol and other drug problems fail, or are less effective in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. While this seems plausible, little is known about the current state of affairs in non-metropolitan areas because there is little research. This paper critically reviews how well current policies are able to respond to alcohol and other drug use in regional, rural and remote Australia. It begins by examining the evidence that is available regarding the extent of use, and the effects of these substances amongst people not living in metropolitan areas, and concludes by considering how well recently introduced criminal justice policies and practices concerned with drug and alcohol related offending work in rural, regional and remote settings.

Horizon sc an ning r ural crime - agroterrorism an e mer ging t hreat ? Richar d By rne Rural A ff air s an d Environ ment Grou p Har pe r A dam s Uni ve rsity Coll eg e, Ne wport, Shro psh ire, Unit ed King do m Acts of terrorism are more normally associated with urban areas, infrastructure, and military or governmental targets. However, as societies around the world come to terms with the reality of asymmetric warfare and global terrorism, new targets and vulnerabilities have to be considered and a wider view of what constitutes critical national infrastructure should be recognised. This paper challenges traditional strategic thinking, which has considered agriculture as having limited vulnerability and being predominately susceptible to biological attack through an exploration of the potential threat and the implications for agriculture and rural communities in the UK for a variety of Agroterrorist attacks. Consideration of case studies and scenario building has identified the wider socio-economic implications for rural communities. These potential impacts go well beyond the farm gate and involve a variety of emerging and established industries such as horse racing, speciality food, leisure and tourism as well as threatening individual well being. Finally an appraisal of the UK government policy in this area highlights some key areas of policy concern given the potential wide nature of an Agroterrorism attack and argues that the UK should recognise Agroterrorism as a distinct threat to critical national infrastructure (as in the US). Through doing so it should seek to raise awareness across rural communities and stakeholders for both prevention and mitigation means.

Cyclo ne Larry's Rew ards? Priso ners , Reint egratio n a nd Qu ality of Life Gary Covent ry, Jam es Cook Univ ers ity Prisons, whether on-shore or off-shore, are considered by critical criminologists to be warehouses" to contain society's enemies. The reputed "enemies" are various but the vast majority of inmates in our prisons are victims of, superfluous to or represent "threats" to the nation's economy. Stories about the prison are bad news. This paper shifts our attention to begin more seriously considering prisoners as a valuable resource of input into local Queensland communities, especially in times of economic disasters. This is not a call to the days of slavery. The case study is focused on recovery efforts in the wake of the March 2006 Cyclone Larry in North Queensland, undertaken by prison work teams from Stuart Prison, Townsville. It is an important story of the experiences of a small group of prisoners and their contribution in responding to a natural disaster, their sense of achievement and community responses to their efforts. The recovery work program is but a step towards reintegrating prisoners into the community following their release from the "warehouse".

Restorati ve j ustic e a nd its imp act on the re-offend ing of j uveniles i n regio nal and remote Australia : A Nort hern Territory persp ecti ve Ter esa Cunningha m Centr al Que enslan d Unive rsity A juvenile pre-court diversion scheme has been in place in the Northern Territory since August 2000. This scheme is administered by police who, where appropriate, use restorative justice practices such as warnings and conferences to divert juveniles from the court process and therefore ultimately from a custodial sentence. This paper reports on preliminary data from a PhD study which is analysing the extent to which restorative justice practices, as used in the juvenile diversion scheme, have impacted on the amount of re-offending of juveniles in the first 5 years of its operation. The results of the analysis showed that, when comparing gender, age, Indigenous status and location of the offence, younger, Indigenous males from regional centres and remote communities had a higher rate of re-offending than juveniles in other demographic and geographic groups. However, the results of a Survival Analysis showed that those juveniles from regional centres and remote communities who had received a diversion re-offended at a lesser rate than did those juveniles from the same locations who had attended court, this was particularly the case for those juveniles from regional centres. The paper outlines the overall study and presents the analysis to date.

Auditing police wor k in lo cal Aborigin al co mm unities Bren dan Del ahunty NSW Om bu ds man Since 2003 the NSW Ombudsman has conducted a series of detailed audits across NSW to assess whether local police commanders are delivering on their commitments to enhance police services to Aboriginal communities, build partnerships and reduce crime. In each location, we ask police to devise an action plans setting out the kinds of strategies that could make a difference to addressing problems in their area, then return 12 months to two years later to check whether police and other agencies followed through on the commitments they made. We have assessed 20 local commands and are finding significant improvements in every command that we audit and return to. Much of the progress relates to practical policing measures to reduce youth offending and deal more effectively with family violence and sexual assault. The rates of progress vary. In some areas police do little more than act on the commitments made after receiving the feedback from our initial audits. Yet in other areas local police go much further than we had suggested. This presentation will talk about the changes our audit team has observed and the kinds of local policing strategies that can make a difference - especially in those areas where police are working closely with Aboriginal people to develop longer-term measures to improve outcomes. Police leadership and genuine community partnerships are starting to make a real difference in places such as Walgett, Bourke, Brewarrina, Dubbo and Casino. High rates of crime and victimisation persist in many high-need communities, yet police and communities in these locations are now working together to turn these problems around.

Policing do mestic viole nce i n rural com mu nities Julianna D em etr ius NSW Om bu ds man Effective policing of domestic violence in rural areas requires coordinated and appropriately resourced 'whole of government' strategies, and real partnerships with communities. Yet there are numerous opportunities for police to lead the way in improving outcomes for victims of violence and their families. This presentation will focus on initial findings from a major study into the policing of domestic violence in NSW. It will highlight frontline policing strategies that are proving effective in urban areas, explain some of the impediments to applying these strategies to sparsely resourced rural areas, and highlight emerging strategies that are starting to overcome these impediments.

The im pa cts of and re spo nses t o fisheries crime in the Murra y D arling Basi n Nev ill e Fo wle r Mur ray Dona ldson Fish eri es V ictoria Organised fisheries crime is a significant threat to the sustainability of native freshwater fish resources in rural Australia. A perception that law enforcement has failed to address fisheries crime was highlighted in the recent Palmer Report on Illegal Fishing for Commercial Gain or Profit in NSW (2004). Fisheries crime threatens the economic and social benefits sustainable fisheries bring to smaller, rural towns and businesses. These benefits contribute more to society than is currently perceived (Kearney, 1999a). The illicit rewards of fisheries crime are significant, up to $45 per kilogram for live and $30 per kilogram for chilled wild murray cod. Illegal product also unfairly competes with legitimately sourced native freshwater fish from the aquaculture sector in the market place. Possible health risks associated with poor handling of illegal product are also a significant threat to the viability of the legal aquaculture sector. Fisheries Victoria with NSW, Queensland and South Australian State fisheries authorities, under the umbrella of the Australian National Fisheries Compliance Committee and the Australian Fisheries Management Forum, are implementing a national compliance strategy to ensure appropriate enforcement responses that will deter fisheries crime. This multi-jurisdictional approach is focused on a combination of strategic intelligence gathering and operational planning; planned major enforcement operations by fisheries agencies from adjoining States (utilising Police where necessary) for cross-jurisdictional responses; and community education fostering guardianship with restaurants and retailers. The Murray Darling Basin Commission has recognised the importance of this action to its aims in conserving threatened native fish.

Judging t he Effecti ve ness of Anti-Poa c hing Hotlin es Egan Gr een Radfor d Unive rsity Virg inia USA All state wildlife law enforcement agencies have established toll free poaching hotlines. The success of these lines in leading to the apprehension of wildlife criminals is reliant on the knowledge of the caller. This is particularly problematic for wildlife violations due to the varying conditions that dictate whether the reported act is a crime. These conditions include factors such as time of year, time of day, type of gear used as well as others. Therefore, in order for poaching hotlines to be an effective means of reducing wildlife crimes, the caller must understand the states established hunting and/or fishing laws. This study uses survey data to explore participants knowledge of wildlife laws and crimes as well their knowledge of the reporting hotline in their states. This information can be useful in determining the most effective use of publicizing wildlife crime information and poaching hotline phone numbers to the public.

Telep honi ng Fish : A n E xa mina tion of t he Creati ve De viance Used by Wildlife Poa chers Egan Gr een Radfor d Unive rsity Virg inia Wildlife poachers have developed innovative techniques to commit their crimes and evade arrest by law enforcement. By taking advantage of technological advances as well as legitimate wildlife management practices, the poachers are able to participate in what Cohen and Machalek (1995) refer to as expropriative crime strategies. This paper documents specific non-conventional poaching techniques used as reported by 22 self-reported poachers, 14 wildlife law enforcement agents and 2 non-poaching hunters who were wildlife crime witnesses. The data, collected in semi-formal interviews, also present the different perceptions of poaching frequency and methods by the criminals and law enforcement officers.

Policing P artners hips - Collab orative Int erve ntion , R espon se a nd Proble m Solvi ng to a chie ve greater ou tco mes for Y out h Jodi e G regg -S mith SA Pol ice Success in Crime prevention in rural communities is achieved the same way all things are achieved in the country. When organisations with a similar goal but with different accountabilities come together and develop joint strategies, pool resources and share knowledge the greatest outcomes can be achieved. Wellbeing Education Safety Freedom Opportunity Potential We work tirelessly to address these fundamental needs of young people, which are in turn are fundamental to a healthy community. Without these foundations we have crime, antisocial behaviour and ever increasing case loads and pressure in our individual agencies. By identifying the need to intervene before the it is too late for young people by flagging those who are not learning, not safe, young offenders, at risk, and unlikely to reach adulthood as well adjusted and resilient young people, we are devising a package which will answer to the performance indicators of each agency, yet address the complex needs of each young person, collectively. Health, Justice, Education and Welfare stand to benefit and serve the community far more effectively by adopting a joined up approach to the management of a young persons life. Multi agency panels, or interagency consultancy groups, as they are known, have a key role to play in driving the outcomes and opportunities for young people at risk of falling through the cracks of one or all agencies servicing the youth client. Changing the attitude of practitioners so to address the greater needs and holistic approach rather than only that of their home agency, is the new challenge to achieving crime prevention and reduction outcomes, with a focus on youth and an early intervention model. This will lead to enhanced relationships between service providers, more sustainable outcomes for young people and a reduction in crime and the fear of crime in rural communities.

Met ha mph etami ne in North D akot a, A L aw E nforce m ent Persp ecti ve Rodney Hai r Minot Univ ers ity N D US A Methamphetamine is a highly addictive, synthetic stimulant that literally attacks the bodys central nervous system. It has also been attacking rural America for the past decade and is still considered to be the top drug problem in the U.S. According to federal government estimates more than 12 million Americans have tried methamphetamine and 1.5 million are regular users. Often, thought of as an urban problem methamphetamine is having a devastating impact on rural communities. It is difficult to go to a rural North Dakota community and find someone who has not been affected by meth in some way. A research project was designed to analyze training needs and education to fully comprehend the exposure of rural law enforcement to methamphetamine. In April of 2005 all North Dakota employed licensed peace officers were surveyed regarding the meth problem within the state. The survey was distributed to 1544 peace officers and yielded 28% return rate. An overwhelming 91% of North Dakota law enforcement felt that the meth problem will continue. They do not believe that more jails and prisons will be the cure to the epidemic and that prevailing treatment programs need to be re-evaluated. Based on forecasted trends, 72% of the respondents strongly agreed that the jails and prisons of the state will continue to be overcrowded by inmates convicted of methamphetamine-related offenses. It does not look like it is going to go away on its own.

Punis hme nt in Rural & R egion al Aus tralia Russel l Ho gg, Un ive rsity o f N e w Englan d Equal justice before the courts is a fundamental principle of liberal democracy and the normal expectation of its citizens. Systematic derogations from equality occasion criticism and call into question the legitimacy of legal and political institutions. Considerable attention has been given to gender and race as factors affecting the delivery of equal justice. Far less attention has been given to the nature and impact of socio-spatial inequalities and differences in shaping the delivery of criminal justice and the imposition of punishment. Although contrary to everyday assumptions and expectations persons facing criminal courts in many parts of rural and regional Australia face different sentencing options to those appearing in urban courts. The paper examines some of this variation and explores possible explanations for it.

Crime in R ural C omm unities : A n Indige no us Perspe cti ve. Gayle Kenn edy, NSW A bor igin al Just ice A dvi sory Council, NSW Att orney -Gen era ls D epart ment The paper will give an overview of Indigenous people and their contact with the justice system. It will examine some of the root causes of crime in rural areas such as isolation, boredom and family problems and look at creative ways of dealing with the perpetrators and victims as well as prevention and sentencing options. The paper will also look at the definitions of a rural area and how, both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who live in them suffer from the same lack of services. We ask the question, s hould rur al comm unitie s aim for a unified approa ch to t he ca use , impac t and pre ventio n of crime in rural areas ? The paper will also explore ways in which Local governments can play key roles in reducing crime by making crime prevention considerations a part of planning processes for the community services it provides. Councils can take the lead in crime prevention work both by example and by organising partnerships between community members, service providers and exploring and taking advantage of the funding and programmes available to regional Australia. This not only means programmes that deal specifically with crime problems, but also cultural and educational programmes. People are less likely to commit crimes or re-offend if they gainfully occupied or employed. We will touch on issues of employment for Indigenous people in rural areas and explore ingrained prejudices that have a direct impact on the employment or non-employment of Indigenous people in areas such as the hospitality industry. We will look at ways of reinforcing the idea that we are all a part of a community and what affects one, affects all. We will also examine Circle Sentencing, an alternative sentencing court for adult Aboriginal offenders that directly involves local Aboriginal people in the process of sentencing offenders. Some of the aims of Circle Sentencing are to reduce barriers between Aboriginal communities and the courts, allow greater participation of Aboriginal offenders and victims in the process and raise awareness of the consequences of offences on victims and communities.

Criminality A mon g Rur al O xyC onti n Users Car l Leuk ef el d Addition al Author s: Jennni fer Hav ens & Robert Wal ker Depart ment o f B ehav ioral Science, Univ ers ity of Ke ntucky The misuse of OxyContin and other prescription drugs has increased in US rural areas. With a history of distilling alcohol and growing marijuana, rural Kentucky has high rates of OxyContin use. In fact, rural Appalachian Kentucky counties led the US in narcotic pain medication prescribed (DEA, 2005). This presentation examines criminality among rural community OxyContin users who were recruited by outreach workers in two rural Appalachian Kentucky counties. After consenting, subjects completed interviewer-administered questionnaires. The total sample (N=208) was male (55.8%) and white (98.6%) with a median age of 29.5. 57% were employed and lived 26 years in Appalachia. Drug misuse was common including benzodiazepines at 92.8%, marijuana at 94.2%, and cocaine at 78.4%. Felonies included drug charges at 34.6%. Participants were partitioned into two groups: (1) Ever charged with a felony (n=118) and (2) Never charged with a felony (n=90). When participants with and without felonies were compared, there were differences (<.05) for those with a felony being male (61.9% vs. 47.8%); having employment problems (41.5% vs. 27%); and fewer receiving pain treatment (37.3% vs. 60%). There were also differences (<.05) for those charged with a felony on benzodiazepine use (61.9% vs. 38.9%) and marijuana use (54.2% vs. 38.9%). Limitations include: Data were self-reported and collected in two counties without random sampling. Nevertheless, this study suggests there are differences among community OxyContin users who were charged with a felony, including criminality and drug misuse. Longitudinal studies will help to better understand criminality and rural prescription misuse.

Buildin g Safer Co mm unities A ctio n Te ams : loc al crime preve ntion b uilding safer comm unitie s John Ma llet Ql d D ept o f Com muniti es The principal outcome of the Queensland Strategic Framework for Community Crime Prevention will be the implementation of a number of strategies designed to support local communities to plan, implement and evaluate sustainable crime prevention activities (SFCCP, p.3). Under this whole-of-government whole-ofcommunity approach, four Building Safer Communities Action Teams (BSCATs) have been established in the Mackay Whitsunday region, and another two are under formation. Their role is to develop and implement evidence-based outcome-focussed action plans which prevent crime and build community safety. This paper will explore the formation and operation of BSCATs in the Mackay Whitsunday region, their support structures, their successes and their trials. BSCATs operating in smaller centres like Bowen and Sarina have faced some different challenges from those in larger centres. The paper will explore the differences, and outline achievements of the BSCATs in understanding and preventing crime-related issues in smaller communities.

Crime, pl ace and expl aini ng rural hots pots R.I.Ma wby Unive rsity o f Plymouth, UK The fact that most research on offence patterns and crime hotspots has focused on urban areas is scarcely surprising, given the almost unanimous finding that crime is concentrated therein. However, there are also marked variations in crime levels between rural areas. Using data collected in one rural county of England (Cornwall) as part of the 2004 crime audits, this paper seeks to identify hotspots and unsafe areas in the county and explain why risk increases in such areas. Variations in crime and disorder are derived from two main data sources: Police crime data for 2001-2004. Victim survey data, covering both experiences of crime and perceptions of crime and disorder in ones area of residence and local town.

These are compared according to three sets of variables, using primary and secondary data: Urban/rural location Deprivation/disadvantage Tourism

The Im pa ct on A boriginal people of t he la ck of com munit y based sen ten cing optio ns in rur al New Sout h Wales John Mc Kenzi e Abor igina l Le gal S erv ice ( NSW/ AC T) Li mit e d, Re dfe rn, NS W co-authors: She ryn O me ri This paper will not seek to examine the impact, causes and prevention of the very first offence committed by offenders living in rural NSW. Rather, it will analyse the impact, causes and prevention of recidivism, or further crime, in rural NSW. This paper will argue that one of the major causes of recidivism is the penalty imposed for prior offences. Statistics show that once an offender has served a period of full-time imprisonment, reoffending is more likely than not. Such figures may reflect a difference in the nature of the offender, that is, those who are sentenced to a term of full-time imprisonment are more likely to re-offend simply because of their recalcitrant nature which was the very reason for their imprisonment in the first place. However, this argument cannot stand when one considers the unavailability of many community based sentencing options in rural parts of NSW which must result in offenders being incarcerated sooner than their metropolitan counterparts and before they have had the opportunity to attain the same recalcitrance as those who are sentenced to imprisonment in metropolitan NSW. Hence, it would seem that full-time imprisonment itself is a substantial contributor to the phenomenon of recidivism. As a result, this paper will demonstrate that one of the main causes of rural crime is the unavailability of community based sentencing options. The impact of this situation is an inequality which sees rural offenders unable to avail themselves of the same opportunities for rehabilitation. This situation affects Aboriginal offenders and their communities disproportionately given that the Aboriginal population is more concentrated in rural parts of NSW.

Crime Stopp ers as a p arty line to the b us h telegr aph . Alan Mcle an Cri me St oppe rs V ictoria An April 2002 analysis of Telstra-supplied summary data showed that just 5% of telephone calls to Crime Stoppers in Victoria (reporting details of criminal activity) were sourced from outside the Melbourne metropolitan area. Over 30% of Victorians live outside Melbourne. Allowing that crime is not evenly spread, it would be expected that more than 5% of calls should have been coming from regional cities, towns and farming communities. After receipt of a grant from the Victorian Government's Community Support Fund ("the proceeds of gambling" in Victoria), Crime Stoppers Victoria undertook a multi-faceted community education campaign addressing c rim e the me s of re lev ance to rural com m unities, always with the invitation to those who may know or suspect who was involved with specific crime incidents to contact Crime Stoppers, without their own identity being an issue. (There is a strong rural reluctance to become "involved", be directly associated with the sending to court of a possible neighbour, and run the risk of retribution.) The selected crime themes were presented with a mixture of prevention tips, facts and figures, and simple analysis, ahead of the call to action. Short, sharp, uncomplicated messages. The education endeavour forged new partnerships and ambassadors, raised the profile and capability of Crime Stoppers, and (truly) strengthened local community capacity to be effective in addressing rural crime. By July 2004, the monthly percentage of incoming non-metropolitan calls stood at 24-25%. This figure has been maintained since that time. Country people are seeing the Crime Stoppers service as being relevant to them. Outcomes via Crime Stoppers (arrests and charges) have increased significantly in each of the past four years. Police are obviously finding quality within the information coming from the community. The Crime Stoppers Rural education materials can be exhibited. The processes can be outlined. The famous "bush telegraph" often tells people who has done what, to whom, and when. Our message is to tell Crime Stoppers also.

City vs Co u ntry So me co ntemp orary tre nds and iss ues emergin g from NSW recorded crim e statisti cs Steve Mo ff at NSW Bure au of Cr im e Stati stics an d R ese arch Is there such a thing as a crime divide across the regions of NSW partitioned by Sydney-NewcastleWollongong (City) and the rural and regional remainder (Country)? This research considers some reduction factors currently available in the NSW recorded crime data that provide statistical insights into prevalence patterns and spatial distribution of personal and property crime at the state, city/country and LGA level. The likelihood of becoming a victim of crime and the risk of apprehension by location are briefly considered along with crimes specific to rural areas.

The healt h of yo u ng rural people o n comm unit y orders . Paul Ne lson The Un ive rsity o f Sydn ey Nam es o f co-autho rs: Dianna Kenny, Tony But ler, Chr is Lennin gs, Mar k Al lerton, Una Ch am pion The health problems of young people in custody have been well documented (Allerton, Kenny, et al. 2003). However, youth on community-based orders form the large majority of young offender populations. The current study investigates and profiles the health of 802 young offenders serving community orders in New South Wales, Australia. 111 youths, including 43 of Indigenous background, who live in rural and regional areas were compared to urban-dwelling young offenders with respect to their physical and mental health needs. Compared to urban youth, results indicate the rate of intellectual disability is double in rural and regional youth, three times when using culture-fair estimates of cognitive and adaptive functioning. Rates of psychopathology, as assessed using the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale (Short Form) were comparable for both groups. The paper will profile further similarities and differences between rural and urban youth.

Substa nce use a nd you ng r ural offend ers Paul Ne lson; Uni ver sity o f Sydney The current study profiles the health of young offenders on supervised community orders (e.g. bond, probation, parole) in New South Wales. These youth form the large majority (85%) of the supervised young offender population. 800 participants were interviewed and assessed, including 111 from rural and regional areas of the state (of which 43 were of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background). Data collected comprised a physical assessment, a health questionnaire including a detailed substance use history, and a battery of psychometric tests including the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale Short Form. Offenders in rural and regional areas were compared to urban-dwelling young offenders with respect to their physical and mental health needs. 77% rural/regional offenders currently smoked cigarettes (urban: 81%, significantly more parents of rural/regional clients also smoked than those in urban areas); 86% rural/regional offenders drank at unsafe levels (urban: 83%). 22% rural/regional young offenders scored in the severe range for Substance Use Disorder (urban: 27%). However, the rate of recent poly-drug abuse was significantly lower in rural/regional offenders (9%, urban offenders 21%). 60% rural/regional offenders were affected by drugs and/or alcohol at the time of their most recent offence (urban: 51%); 23% rural/regional offenders had received treatment for a drug or alcohol problem (urban: 18%). The presentation will cover further similarities and differences between rural and urban youth.

Policing illicit dru g us e in Aborigi nal a nd Torres Strait Islander co mm unities Judy Putt and Br endan De lahunty Austral ian Inst itute o f C ri minology and NSW O mbu dm an This paper presents recently published findings from a landmark study of issues associated with the policing of cannabis, amphetamine and other illicit drug use in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The 12-month study by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), was funded by the National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund. It examined the current patterns of substance use and focused on ways to improve the capacity of police to work more effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on illicit drug issues. The research found an urgent need for action in the light of changes such as a recent surge in cannabis supply and use in many isolated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and a rise in organised drug trafficking. It also found positive developments taking place as police and communities look for ways to respond more effectively to illicit drug use and reduce drug-related harms.

The L ake Tyers Aborigin al Tr ust Se curity A udit Alan R edsha w: Victor ian Polic e This paper discusses the process of conducting a security audit for the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust in East Gipsland in Victoria. The community, established in the 1850s, is quite isolated and currently has 160 residents. The audit was conducted as part of a Renewal Program for the Aboriginal Trust. The audit was the first of its type and provided an insight into various security issues. Recommendations for improved security were based upon Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Principles.

Ou t of Sight , Out of Mi nd: Th e Org ani satio n a nd Reg u lation of R ural Prostit utio n John Scott, Unive rsity o f N e w Engl and Historically and cross culturally, prostitution has represented the archetypal form of female criminality and/or deviance. Prostitution has largely been depicted as an urban phenomenon, yet there is significant historical and contemporary evidence to indicate that prostitution exists and has always existed in rural and regional locations. This paper examines why prostitution has largely been invisible in rural and contexts. Drawing on interviews conducted with sex workers, it also touches upon current aspects of the organisation and regulation of the sex industry in New South Wales, noting features of the sex industry unique to rural environments.

Applying a co mmu nitaria n mod el of restorati ve jus tic e and t herap euti c jurisprud en ce: a soci al researc h projec t in Ro ebour ne WA Bri an Stee ls, Senior Res earch er, Cent re for Social an d Com mun ity Re sea rch, Murdoch Uni ver sity & Senio r Counsel lor, Ma warnk arr a H ealth S ervic e A bor igina l Cor por ation, Roe bourne This paper provides an outline of the processes and underpinning theoretical constructs involved in a social research project conducted in Roebourne, WA. The author provides a brief history of how the research came about, and how various theories were applied among a grass roots, Aboriginal community level where there were continuous calls for broad socio-judicial and economic changes. The project draws attention to the localized social injustices, which prevail, adding to the difficulties of people who are regularly exposed to the police and court. The paper also examines the use of therapeutic and restorative justice processes working together to provide a challenging and engaging combination of judicial practices. Collectively, it is argued, that this combination enables the offenders lifestyle to be examined and supported by the court and significant others, while working towards a community group conference with the victim and their supportive others. Reparation and restitution are sought from the court and community throughout the participatory process, together with a degree of compassion and forgiveness. The impact of a more communitarian model is measured against previous experiences. Community input and support is a crucial element in this grass roots project where local people are engaged in taking leadership in challenging offending behaviour and facilitating a community group conference. The project aims to provide a sustainable response to the aftermath of crime, which is inclusive of and respectful towards the broader community.

The Geogr aph y of Violen t Crime: So cial Comm unitie s a cross t he Unit ed State s Sheryl Van Horn e Penn Stat e Un ive rsity USA

Dis org aniz ation ,

So cial

Disorder,

a nd

R ural

Violent crime trends vary across the United States, with the South leading the country in terms of its high rates of violence. This study examines the rates of violent crime and how they vary regionally in rural counties of the United States and examines the question of whether social disorganization theory applies equally across various regions of the country. The United States Census Bureau divides the U.S. into four basic regions: the Northeast (comprised of New England and Middle Atlantic states), the Midwest (with East North Central and West North Central subdivisions), the South (containing South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central subdivisions), and the Midwest, which is divided into Mountain and Pacific states. This study examines county level data from the U.S. Census Bureau and from the Uniform Crime Reports to apply the systemic reformulation of social disorganization theory to violent crime rates.

Circle Sent en cing Steve Wi dders, Br ian D ennison, C ircl e Sent encing Arm ida le This session will showcase circle sentencing, which has recently been introduced in Armidale.

Field Trip Farm Crime Prevention

The field trip on farm security will be held Friday 1st December commencing at 2pm at Laureldale farm, the University of New England. The field trip will be open to farmers and other interested people as well as to conference delegates. The field trip will be led by Brendan Doyle and Chris Weber, of the Institute for Rural Futures, UNE, who will be showcasing a security camera using telemetry solutions which we have designed for boundary security and stock management for farms. Farmcam will also demonstrate their camera. Representatives from NSW Police will discuss farm security. John Finlayson from Aleis International will demonstrate the new Aleis electronic readers for the National Livestock Identification Scheme. Alison McIntosh from the Department of Primary Industry will be there to answer questions regarding NLIS. The demonstrations and discussions will be followed by light refreshments. The field trip should conclude by 4.30pm.