Improving the law reform process: Opportunities for empirical qualitative research?. Issue 4 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hanley, Natalia; Fileborn, Bianca; Larcombe, Wendy; Henry, Nicola; Powell, Anastasia
• Is Part Of: Australian & New Zealand journal of criminology. Volume 49:Issue 4(2016.)
• Page Start: 546
• Page End: 563
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Empirical research -- law reform -- qualitative methodology; Criminology -- Australia -- Periodicals; Criminology -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Australia -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; 364.099
• DOI: 10.1177/0004865815604195
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-8658

Abstract

Research on law reform has identified a variety of factors that help or hinder the reform process, but it has not systematically explored the role that empirical research plays and could play in enabling and enhancing law reform. Drawing on a series of qualitative interviews with criminal law reform experts in Victoria, we analyse the current uses and perceived value of empirical research in criminal law reform and explore opportunities for qualitative research methods to be used more systematically or extensively to improve criminal law reform processes and outcomes.