By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A PILOT program that fast-tracks family violence offenders through Dandenong Magistrates’ Court has led to better justice for victims, the state Royal Commission into Family Violence was told.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, who oversees the police’s southern metro region, told a commission hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday that the Family Violence Accelerated Justice Outcomes pilot had made perpetrators more accountable.
The pilot, joint run by police and the court since December, had reduced “dwell time” in court by resolving matters within three-and-a-half months, he said.
Before the pilot, it would typically take 16 weeks for a case to appear at first mention. Under the pilot, first mention occurs within a week.
Subsequently the rate of offences being withdrawn had dropped from 31 per cent to 13 per cent.
“So we just find that early intervention, that early track into court really does ramp up accountability, puts the affected family member in a situation where she feels supported and we are seeing that significant reduction in withdrawals,” Mr Cornelius said.
“So that to my mind really does highlight significant enhanced justice outcomes for affected family members.”
Mr Cornelius said Dandenong police’s “pro-arrest and pro-remand” policy against family violence offenders had a “salutary impact” since its introduction 18 months ago.
“It’s the difference between a suspected offender sitting in the comfort of an interview room or that person spending time in a police cell alongside a drug dealer and a car thief.
“If we do this stuff to car thieves and drug dealers, we should absolutely be doing it to family violence offenders.”
The cell-time appeared to significantly reduce family-violence offenders’ recidivism, he said.
