South Australia Police Department's Restraint Order System: 'Three Years Later' (From National Conference on Domestic Violence, Volume 2, 11-15 November 1985, P 477-502, 1986, Suzanne E Hatty, ed. -- See NCJ-106606)

• NCJ Number: 106608
• Author(s): P Cornish
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 26 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This article discusses utilization of restraint orders by South Australian Police since the 1982 implementation of Section 99 of the Justice Act, which permits issuance of an order before violence has occurred on the basis of threatened harm and probability of subsequent injury.

Abstract

The Act is designed to ensure that restraint orders for victims are sought expeditiously. An analysis of data on restraint orders issued between 1982 and 1985 indicates that 4,524 orders were issued, 60 percent of which involved family or marital disputes. Of these orders, 25 percent were withdrawn for various reasons, and there were 777 apprehensions for breaches of restraint orders. Orders specified such conditions as not to assault, communicate, or approach; most contained multiple conditions. Of those who breached orders, 95 percent were males. In general, the police department views restraint orders as a crime prevention measure that provides a method for tackling the problem of domestic violence and providing victims some measure of protection. 12 tables and 21 references.