Strengthening justice system responses

Significant reforms are underway to create a stronger justice system that prioritises victim safety, holds perpetrators to account, and ensures people impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV) have access to responsive advice and are supported to participate in court processes.

On 11 March 2021, the Queensland Government announced a wide-ranging review into the experience of women across the criminal justice system to be undertaken by the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

Key initiatives to date include:

• piloting DFV electronic monitoring
• developed a Good practice resource for DFV court support workers
• established specialist DFV courts in Southport, Beenleigh, Townsville (with a circuit to Palm Island) and Mount Isa—read the Evaluation of the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court trial in Southport (PDF) for more information
• amending Queensland laws to better protect survivors and people experiencing violence and hold people who use violence to account
• enhancing support for people involved in DFV court proceedings
• expanding the domestic violence duty lawyer service
• automating information-sharing across the justice system
• enhancing awareness of court processes among survivors and people experiencing violence and people using violence
• releasing the Domestic and family violence bench book
• rolling out a statewide Vulnerable Persons Training Package to equip police with the knowledge and skills to work within the new legislative frameworks for DFV and mental health
• continuing to work with community justice groups to implement and deliver a DFV response for communities
• making it easier for victims to apply for and apply to change a domestic violence order
• ongoing professional development for magistrates, improving the courts' response to DFV
• implementing the Court Services Queensland Domestic and family violence and sexual violence safety framework—Delivering safer courts 2024–2034.

For further information about these reforms please email wsvp@dcssds.qld.gov.au.