Beyond mere deterrence: rethinking criminal justice policies for North Queensland

Open Access

Abstract

The role that Townsville plays in the process of developing and implementing criminal justice policies for other regional centres throughout Queensland (and regional Australia generally) cannot be discounted, notwithstanding its relatively small population or even its 'outer regional Australian' status. In fact, Townsville has recently become a crucible for some of the most cutting-edge and substantive developments in criminal justice policy-making in the state. What is particularly noteworthy is that despite the 'popular punitivism' that seems to have dominated this discourse in the political and media spheres, many, if not all, of the policies have eschewed an exclusively deterrent response to crime. This paper will attempt to explain: (l) why criminal justice policy makers should not limit themselves simply to formulating determent measures; (2) why Townsville has, in recent years (2016-18), been such a significant site in relation to developing and implementing municipal and regional criminal justice policies; and (3) what direction the Queensland criminal justice system should take in the foreseeable future.