November 2005 was the inaugural Justice Research Day, held at the University of Western Australia and funded by the Department of Justice. The Justice Day was an initiative of the Department of Justice and the Crime Research Centre at the University of Western Australia. It was decided that each year the Justice Day would be held at a different university and funded by a different stakeholder department. This year, the Office of Crime Prevention funded the Justice Day, which was hosted by the School of Law, Murdoch University.

Just over 90 delegates attended Justice 06, held in Freehills elect ron ic moot court and the Jackson McDonald teaching laboratory. Delegates from UWA, Murdoch, ECU, Curtin and Notre Dame came together with delegates from the Department of Corrective Services, the Department of the Attorney General, Western Australian Police, Office of Crime Prevention, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, as well as others. The day provided an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to come together, share resources and exchange perspectives on the issue of Justice in a Western Australian context.

The presentation schedule provided a broad range of topics and a chance to discuss specific issues within criminal justice, such domestic violence. Three academics from Murdoch’s School of Law presented papers: Guy Hall , Jaimie Beven and Thomas Crofts . Thomas’s paper generated quite a lively discussion! Although it was a long day for both presenters and delegates, it did prove to be an intellectually stimulating event (to use the words of Magistrate King).

Next year the Justice Research Day will be held at Edith Cowan University and funded by the Western Australian Police. It is looking as though the Justice Day will grow in future years and continue to provide a clear indication that issues of Justice are taken seriously by key stakeholders in Western Australia .