ASC rules strip searching female prisoner illegal breach of human rights
The ACT Supreme Court has determined that the human rights of an Aboriginal woman detained at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) were breached when she was subjected to two strip-searches in 2021. These searches were ruled to have violated the ACT Human Rights Act, affirming that even in custody, individual dignity must not be disregarded.
Justice Delayed: Mr Irving Wins Malicious Prosecution Case, 32 Years On
The Supreme Court of Queensland has awarded $130,000 in damages to Indigenous man Mr Terry Irving, more than three decades after he was first wrongfully charged by police.
Human Rights Behind Bars: The Duty to Protect Female Prisoners
Every person in custody retains basic human rights. Chief among them is the right to safety, dignity, and freedom from abuse. The recent $2 million lawsuit brought by Keli Lane against the NSW Government highlights how deeply these rights can be breached when systems fail to protect women behind bars.
SA Law Society Raises Concerns Over Youth Bail and Sentencing Reforms
The South Australian Government has introduced the Statutes Amendment (Recidivist Young Offenders) Bill 2025. Its stated aim is to address youth crime by targeting serious repeat offenders with tougher bail and sentencing measures. The Law Society of South Australia has voiced serious concerns about the scope, fairness and long-term consequences of the proposed laws.
Unfinished Business: ALRM’s Review of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
In July 2025, the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) released its report Unfinished Business: A Review of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC).
NSW Coroner Calls for Better Prison–Family Communication After Mr. Brown’s Death
A recent coronial inquest into the tragic death in custody of 28-year-old Lathan Brown has highlighted a glaring failure in how NSW Correctional Services notified his family during his final hours.
Then NSW police officers jailed for pepper-spraying, stomping and dragging woman during welfare check
Two former NSW Police officers pleaded guilty to multiple charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, common assault, and misusing a prohibited weapon.