Crime, Actually

It's a little one: NSW throws out 'good character' references

NSW courts have become the first to abolish 'good character' references in sentencing. Alex's response to this was caution, Kia was optimistic - and that represents community views around this change. So what is it, who could it benefit and where do we still need to ensure that everyone is getting a fair and equal process through the sentencing process?

Episode 6 - Does policing having a culture problem?

Are police forces failing 50% of their community? Alex recently wrote about this for The Conversation. Inpsired by the clashes between police and protestors in Sydney, but also because there have been reviews and reports and media articles on the problematic cultures we see in the police force without much change. So what's it going to take to have a police force that keeps their entire population safe? This is what Kia and Alex take a look at today, focussing on reviews in Australia and around the world. You can read Alex's Conversation piece here: https://theconversation.com/australias-masculine-policing-culture-is-failing-women-and-children-276176

Episode 5 - A look at 'The Mushroom Tapes'

It was the biggest case in Australia, but also the world in 2025. The trial of an Australian woman found guilty for three counts of murder and one count of attemtped murder after feeding members of her extended family beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms, a highly toxic fungi. There were podcasts, journalists, documumentary makers, true crime influencers (whatever the heck that is) and authors in the court room. Three of them whipped a book out at the end of 2025, The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein. Kia enhaled this book and couldn't wait to talk about it and Alex had been asked a lot about why we were so into this case as it played out, so we've brought a bit of a review and convo on this case togther.

It's a little one: An update on what the UK is proposing for the future of jury trials

A little update, or not so little update depending on what happens, to our episode talking about jury trials. After we hit go on that episode (we don't think the two are linked, but you never know) the UK Government released their proposed changes to trials and jury trials across the UK. Alex has been following the developments closely and takes us through what's planned, why and what flow on we might see in criminal cases across the globe.

Episode 4 - Is there really a criminal gene?

You've no doubt heard about the 'criminal gene'. It is the basis for so many stories in pop culture - TV, movies and books. It's the idea that there might be a genetic marker that could allow us to know if someone is more likely to commit crime, especially violent crime, than someone who doesn't have this genetic marker. So is this a work of fiction or something that actually exists? It's one of Alex's favourite (it isn't) topics, so buckle in!