AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
April 29, 2016
Rachel Browne
Social Affairs Reporter
Australia’s most senior public prosecutors have rejected a suggestion that their decisions should be subject to judicial review at a discussion about how the criminal justice system manages sexual abuse cases.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse invited Directors of Public Prosecutions from each state and territory as well as victims’ rights advocates to the meeting to examine the question of external oversight of DPPs and whether there should be avenues for victims to seek a review of a decision not to prosecute.
The DPPs rejected the necessity for a judicial review of the reasons for their decisions, saying findings could be reviewed internally if necessary.
They also unanimously argued against a suggestion that an independent inspector be appointed to audit the processes of the DPPs in each state and territory.
Most DPPs undertake internal audits, with the results published in their annual reports.
Commission chairman Justice Peter McClellan suggested greater oversight and transparency would improve public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.