Please note:
All the linked documents below are in a .PDF format, and will require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
The reader is freely available at Adobe.com1)Consent by Coercion (04-April-2001) [24KB]
- Details how Part 7 of the Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act has been
implemented in NSW prisons. It was originally distributed on April 11,
2001 at the Sydney Institute of Criminology seminar 'The Use of DNA in
the Criminal Justice System'. Made up largely of information supplied
by NSW prisoners. Contains some appendices which are not available in
electronic format.
2)Legally Scientific? (09-Jun-2001) [72KB]
- Traces the history of DNA use in the criminal justice system,
focussing on problems with effective laboratory standards and the
difficulty courts have had in interpreting DNA evidence. An earlier
draft of Legally Scientific? was distributed at the April 11 Sydney
Institute of Criminology seminar.
3)Submission to last year's Senate Legal and Constitutional Commission Inquiry into the Commonwealth Crimes Amendment (Forensic Procedures) Bill 2000. (October 2000 [20KB])
4)DNA and Criminal Justice (February 2000) [36KB]
- Originally prepared by Justice Action as a paper for a NSW
Parliamentary Crossbencher Briefing. Now included in the Book of
Readings for Griffith University law students.
5)Legislation Alert - Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Bill 2000 (05-Jun-2000) [16KB]
- Bulletin distributed to NSW parliamentarians insisting that the
Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Bill 2000 be referred to the Standing
Committee on Law and Justice.
6)Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Bill 2000 - Amendment proposals (08-Jul-2000) [32KB]
- Amendments proposed by Justice Action during the passage of the legislation through NSW parliament.
7)DNA Testing and Indigenous Australians
(14-Jun-2001 [12KB]) - Written for Indigenous Social Justice
Association newsletter Djadi-Dugarang. Explains why forensic DNA
testing will fall more heavily upon Aboriginal Australians.
8)When Government Grabs your Genes (July 2000) [12KB]
- Article written for Green Left Weekly
pointing out the way in which the Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act
allows the government to keep and commercialise forensic samples.
9)The Brave New World of Big Brother Bob (May 2000) [12KB]
- Article for Chippo news highlighting the draconian provisions of the
Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act and pointing out that the Sydney Red
Cross Blood bank has long provided samples which are DNA profiled and
databased without the knowledge or consent of donors.
11)NSW prisoners and the DNA laws (November 2000) [16KB]
- DNA article from Framed Summer 2000 edition. Heavily editted and
censored after threats from NSW Corrective Services to prevent the
distribution of Framed containing the original version of the article.
13)Submission to NSW Legislative CouncilInquiry into the Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act (04-Jun-2001) [108KB]
- Overview of the development and introduction of forensic DNA laws in
NSW and in depth critique of the shortcomings of the legislation.
14)Big Brother - When life imitates art (25-July-2001) [20KB]
- Written for UNSW student magazine Thurunka. Draws parallels between
constant surveillance and summary justice as it appears in reality TV
and in Bob Carr's NSW - comparing both with the nightmare society
prophesised by George Orwell.
15)Supplementary Submissionto NSW Legislative Council Inquiry into the Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act (26-Aug-2001) [80KB]
- Answers specific questions about DNA testing and the Act asked of Justice Action by the Standing Committee on Law and Justice.
