and practice: Three AIC examples Dr Adam Tomison

Transcription

1 The impact of research on policy and practice: Three AIC examples Dr Adam Tomison Director

2 1. Labour trafficking (non-sexual forced labour or slavery) Only 2 prosecuted cases of labour trafficking in Australia s history AIC research aimed to investigate the nature and true extent of labour trafficking in Australia It raised awareness of the issue in the community and resulted in a better understanding of labour trafficking risk factors The research became the basis for national legislative and policy reform It led to government investment in research and support services for trafficked people

3 Low awareness of human trafficking

4 Identification of unreported cases labour trafficking Domestic workers Construction ti and agriculture workers Nurses / cleaning Stonemasons Most cases were not recognised as trafficking Easier to prosecute as other offences (assault, theft, fraud, deprivation of liberty) Forced labour cases may also involve sexual assault

5 Research impact National law reform - Review and amendment of trafficking legislation Funding for community awareness campaign Increased engagement by unions and the labour sector Research is informing trafficking work internationally, eg. UN Special Rapporteur For further information: David Labour trafficking. Research and Public Policy Series No.108. Canberra: AIC i / bli ti / t%20 i / /100

6 2. Measuring the impact of Australian Drug Law Background: Enforcement (DLE) (AUD)$1.7 billion spent annually on drug law enforcement Need for better systems to measure efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement responses Need to identify and capture the full range of contributions drug Need to identify and capture the full range of contributions drug law enforcement makes to society

7 Traditional DLE measures: Focus on drug seizures and arrests describes levels of police activity rather than impacts Are difficult to interpret without knowing the size of the illicit drug market Are unable to account for wider community benefit that is, what are the impacts on health, welfare, education?

8 Stage 1: Project stages Review current DLE performance measurement Identify gaps and deficiencies Develop draft framework Stage 2: Refine and fully test the measures with law enforcement Develop implementation resources, skills and capacity

9 The Framework Four high-level outcomes: reduced drug crime and drug-related crime reduced organised crime improved public health improved public amenity Final report:

10 What resulted from the research? Australian DLE agencies have recognised the need to improve the way they assess the impact of their work Recognition of the benefits in properly p assessing DLE impacts The DLE Performance Framework is now used by a number of Australian drug law enforcement agencies Further work with one state law enforcement agency helped to create a better understanding local drug problems (and responses to those problems). The AIC system now forms the basis of that jurisdiction s entire intelligence strategy. International interest in the methodology and applying it to other law enforcement and policy areas

11 3. Drug Use Monitoring Australia Similar to the US Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program Began in 1999 Captures information on more than 4,000 alleged offenders (detainees - not yet convicted) each year across 9 police sites across Australia Comprised of a two-stage methodology: ogy Interviewer-administered self-report survey Voluntary urine testing

12 Policy impact DUMA identifies key drug use trends which aids three main sectors: Law enforcement/ intelligence: Early detection of trends in drug use informs operational drug law enforcement practices Decrease in heroin and increase in cocaine use Rise in methamphetamine use Monitoring drug markets (information on price, purity and new drugs on the market) informs police intelligence operations relating to drug trafficking

13 Drug treatment: Better understanding of changes in drug use patterns (e.g. increase in methamphetamine use) informs the development of, and changes to, drug treatment programs Interviewing detainees who are the target population p for drug treatment services allows drug treatment services to better identify solutions to specific drug problems E l i f d h l d t h i t t t f Early warning of drug use changes led to change in treatment focus and treatment regimes (eg. heroin to methamphetamine)

14 Health policy: Collecting detailed information on drug using offenders aids policy makers/health providers in creating initiatives that address issues such as mental illness Enhanced regulation and monitoring of legally-prescribed pharmaceuticals (Feb 2012) DUMA data shows a high prevalence of mental illness among detainees Mental health staff now located in police watch-houseshouses Changes in the processing of detainees and modifications to practice to reduce self-harm and deaths in custody

15 Timely information Quarterly addenda on topics of policy interest Synthetic cannabis kronic to be released in April 12 Identified new rise in methamphetamines early warning system : au/publications/current%20series/rip/21-40/rip22.aspx Diversion of pharmaceuticals to the black market: DUMA annual report (2010/11 in press):

16 Why did the research have impact? Quality, innovative research Deliberate focus on policy and practice implications without being prescriptive Dissemination to target audiences Research Champions The findings had value for stakeholders they could meet a need The timing was good - Public and/or political interest