Maximum security: 'Being in the belly of the beast'

Very little information or research is available about the operation of Maximum Security Units (MSUs) in Queensland prisons. These units were developed within existing prisons in the early 1980s to deal with the incarceration of prisoners considered to be the worst and highest risk. Drawing on a number of interviews with prison visitors and on published documents and cases, this article examines the purpose and possible shortcomings of MSUs in Queensland in light of the Standard Guidelines for Corrections in Australia (1996).

The need for competence tests : Queensland judicial perspectives on non-accused child witnesses in criminal proceedings : Part 1.

To examine the question of whether Queensland judicial officers endorse the need for competence tests for non-accused child witnesses in criminal proceedings, a mail survey was sent to judicial officers - questions considered the need to distinguish between children's sworn and unsworn evidence - relevance of age to competence - desirability of competence test formalities.