Queensland Criminal Justice Centre soon to be a reality

Attending a demonstration of the QCJC website from left to right; Marie New (Regional Manager Disability Services Qld.), Andrew Caple (research officer QCJC), Sue Gordon (QCJC Coordinator), Kerry Shine (Qld. Attorney General), and Dan Toombs (TASC CEO)

The Attorney General of Queensland, the Honourable Kerry Shine MP has shown the Queensland Government’s support for TASC’s innovative projects by announcing a further 139,000 dollars to bolster TASC’s Queensland Criminal Justice Centre (QCJC).

“Over the last few years I’ve become accustomed to TASC frequently launching another innovative initiative to benefit the community and this one now of course will tremendously benefit the whole state” the Attorney General said.

TASC Chief Executive Officer Dan Toombs welcomed the funding, stating that the QCJC would encourage a level playing field for vulnerable groups within our society that come into contact with our criminal justice system.

“The QCJC will focus on enhancing the legal response to vulnerable groups and we’ve kicked it off with a compelling portal for lawyers on effectively representing disabled Queenslanders.”

Sue Gordon, co-ordinator of the QCJS states “The QCJC emanated from TASC’s multi award winning Disability Law Project which provides legal support, representation and advocacy services to disabled defendants in Toowoomba. The QCJC will build upon this important work but will expand to include other marginalised and vulnerable groups into the future, and the challenge to expand this work across Queensland is critical to providing access to justice for all Queenslanders”.

Lawyer and Doctoral candidate Andrew Caple the project research officer said ” this project involves the publication of a web based resource to enable lawyers and other professionals working in the criminal justice system to readily access procedural and substantive guidance in order to effectively represent disabled persons. There will be a focus on the issues of fitness to plead, unsoundness of mind, and an illumination of the relationship between the Mental Health Act 2000 and the general criminal law.

Dan Toombs thanked all those involved in giving life to this initiative, in particular Sue Gordon, QUT Academic Andrew Caple, Steff Hopkins and Andy Asselin. Also a big thanks to Law Firm Marketing

Click here to visit the QCJC website.