Alternative models for prosecuting and trying criminal cases

Opened 1 Jul 2009

Contact Details

• Dr Warren Young
• wyoung@lawcom.govt.nz
• 04 914 4838

Criminal Law
This project has arisen from the Commission’s recommendation in their 2008 report, Disclosure to Court of Defendants’ Previous Convictions, Similar Offending, and Bad Character (NZLC R103) 2008. We recommended that Government should undertake an inquiry into whether the present adversarial trial process should be modified or replaced with an alternative model, with particular reference to cases involving sexual violence. The project is being undertaken collaboratively with Elizabeth Mc Donald and Yvette Tinsley from Victoria University of Wellington and Jeremy Finn from the University of Canterbury, who have a Law Foundation grant for research on similar issues. Preparatory work has commenced.