Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

professionals, potential jurors tended to be even less knowledgeable about such factors (Benton,Ross, Bradshaw, Thomas & Bradshaw, 2006; Magnussen, Melinder, Stridbeck & Raja, 2009).Thus, identifying the correlates of eyewitness misidentification and disseminating thatinformation may result in reducing wrongful convictions. This research incorporates anexperimental design to examine factors that influence the reliability of eyewitness testimony.Subjects will be assigned to a variety of experimental conditions wherein they will witness afictional crime, be asked to recall elements of that crime and identify the perpetrator. Theindependent variables of race of perpetrator, race of witness, change blindness, distance from thefictional crime, and recall time are among some of the variables that will be manipulated. Afterthe experiment, subject interviews will also be held to ascertain the subject’s level of confidencein her/his eyewitness testimony. Results will be reported.Solutions-Focused Sentencing: A Mainstream TJ ApproachGreg Connellan, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia(gtc@magistratescourt.vic.gov.au)Recent years have seen the emergence of a range of specialist problem solving courts in manyjurisdictions. Specialist courts include drug courts, community courts, family violence courts andindigenous courts. Specialist problem solving courts are characterised by legislative reform,specialist staff and judiciary, multi-disciplinary teams, tailor made processes and additionalresources. The majority of cases however continue to be dealt with in mainstream court settings.Mainstream courts are characterised by large caseloads, limited time, backlogs, scare resourcesand generalist staff and judiciary. Despite this there are significant opportunities for sentencingprocesses in particular to apply TJ principles. Many examples exist but they tend to arise in anad hoc manner. This paper will on the practical experiences of the author in the developmentand implementation of the “Solutions Focused Sentencing Process” at the DandenongMagistrates’ Court, Victoria, Australia. This example will be used to explore the difficulties ofapplying solution focused judging in the mainstream and identify strategies to enable greaterapplication of therapeutic jurisprudence principles in mainstream court settings. The paper willexplore the challenges faced by those wishing to develop and sustain such approaches at a locallevel. It will discuss the types of networks, institutional support and systemic changes needed tonurture and support local solutions-focused initiatives and build a solutions-focused cultureacross a court.Institutionalizing TJ Approaches in Mainstream CourtsPauline Spencer, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia(pts@magistratescourt.vic.gov.au)481