A legal process or a justice system? Sex offences in Queensland - still seeking justice

Abstract

Scott Volkers was arrested in a glare of media publicity in March 2002. In July 2002, he was committed for trial on seven charges of indecent dealing with children under 16. By September 2002, the prosecution case against him had been discontinued. Public interest in the case and disquiet about its handling prompted the Qld Crime and Misconduct Commission to conduct two separate inquiries into concerns about how sexual abuse is handled by the Qld criminal justice system. This article considers the broad implications of the issues raised by those inquiries, particularly from the point of view of the victims/survivors of sexual abuse.