Domestic Violence Access to Justice
One in four women across the country have experienced physical partner violence at the hand of an intimate partner. Family and domestic violence is the largest driver of homelessness for women, a common factor in child protection cases and results in a police call out every two minutes across the country.
Western Australia’s Court Diversion programs deal with people who have underlying problems which contribute to their offending, with a view to helping them to get their lives back on track and keep them out of prison. The diversionary courts are not about absolving people of their crimes, but recognising that people struggling with issues such as substance abuse; mental health; family violence; gambling, and homelessness need rehabilitation and support. Evidence shows us that people who go through WA’s range of diversionary programs are less likely to reoffend.
