The criminal justice system presupposes people generally are free to decide whether or not to engage in criminal behaviour. However, the courts acknowledge not everyone has free will.
James Gargasoulas was convicted of six murders using a vehicle in Melbourne’s CBD in 2017.
David Crosling/ AAP
In three years, 173 people died from 17 ramming vehicle attacks worldwide. This week, Victoria police announced a policy supporting officers to shoot drivers of weaponised cars.
Three recent faces of confirmed and alleged terror attacks each treated very differently: the two separate Bourke Street attackers – James Gargasoulas and Hassan Khalif Shire Ali – and Ertunc Eriklioglu, one of the three people arrested on November 20 for allegedly planning a terror attack.
AAP/The Conversation
As recent events show, we might get better media reporting if journalists questioned authorities more closely on the relevance of ethnicity and religion in crime reporting.
Studies consistently show mental health does not in and of itself lead to violent behaviour.
DANIEL POCKETT/AAP
Terrorism laws contain extra hurdles to secure a conviction, so prosecutors and police may prefer to charge offenders with murder or assault in some cases.
Police pursuits are among the most challenging operational situations facing officers.
AAP/Joel Carrett
Australia needs to be very careful not to allow the bail system to become a political scapegoat at the hands of commentators exercising 20/20 hindsight.