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Sarah Condon and Julia Breheny discuss the recent introduction of the Drug Court Division to The Melbourne Magistrates Court

Nick Jane breaks down what a diversion is, and how it can help first time offenders.

Published in the Law Institute Journal and written by Venetia Stewart and Stary Norton Halphen’s Nicole Spicer, “Crime Doesn’t Pay” explores the impact of asset confiscation. “Confiscating the assets of criminals is one way that the legal system meritoriously seeks to ensure that ‘Crime doesn’t pay’ and provides compensation to the victims of crime, but it can also produce some unintended effects”

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear from the outset: Andrew Gaff will be setting no precedent if he is charged with a criminal offence arising from his assault on Andrew Brayshaw in Sunday’s AFL derby between the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle.

The families of women and children detained in Syria are threatening to take the Federal Government to court, claiming it is legally obliged to repatriate Australian citizens since the fall of the Islamic State group.Eighteen women and children, including two newborn babies who are the youngest Australians detained in Syria, are involved in the proposed legal action.

Yesterday, AM reported that Yuan Xiaoliang, the wife of detained Australian writer and democracy advocate Yang Hengjun, had been detained and questioned by Chinese police and prevented from leaving the country on the weekend.This morning, more details are emerging about the lengths lawyers and friends have gone to, in seeking their protection.Australian officials were asked if they could provide consular assistance and escort Mrs Yuan to the airport or even back to Australia, but those requests were denied.The ABC understands Australia doesn't have the right to offer her consular assistance, while Mrs Yuan is a permanent resident of Australia, she is not an Australian citizen.Mrs Yuan's Australian based lawyer, Rob Stary, argues more can and should be done to help her.

Rob Stary and Marco Man sit down with 3CR Community Radio's Brainwaves Program to discuss social justice issues, drug addiction, prison, and mental health

North Melbourne great Glenn Archer can appeal his conviction for assaulting a runner at his son's junior football game, after getting the go-ahead from a Supreme Court judge.Archer, 45, punched a volunteer runner, breaking his glasses, after tensions boiled over at a match at Heidelberg oval on June 25 last year.He believed he was only going to get "a slap on the wrist" when he pleaded guilty to assaulting the runner.

Claims of fake evidence have renewed doubt over the conviction of Jason Roberts of the 1998 murders of police officers Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller.Roberts’ lawyer Rob Stary has told 3AW Breakfast the new allegations must be reviewed in court.“We’re not asking him to be acquitted, we just saying that this evidence in its entirety needs to be reviewed by the Court of Appeal,” Mr Stary said.“We’re talking about locking up a man who’s prospectively innocent of this crime, for the rest of his adult life and that’s just wrong.”

The elderly woman who helped her son try to cover up a murder by conspiring to kill a witness has walked free from custody, after a judge ruled she was just another victim of his manipulation.Maria Cardamone, 78, was sentenced to the 141 days already served in jail since her arrest in May for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The man accused of defrauding former Woman's Day editor Nene King out of tens of thousands of dollars has been found not guilty of all charges by a Victorian County Court.Colin Hahne was charged with 35 counts of theft, fraud and falsifying documents.

An Iraqi-born Australian has avoided jail time after being convicted of assisting people smuggling after helping relatives to come to Australia four years ago.Wasim Buka, 45, pleaded guilty to two charges of assisting people smuggling after helping his niece, her husband and another relative to reach Australia in late 2011 and early 2012.