Writer
Nicholas Cowdery
Nicholas Cowdery AO QC is a former Director of Public Prosecutions for NSW who has spent 50 years in criminal justice in various capacities. He is a former President of the International Association of Prosecutors and inaugural Co-Chair of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association. He holds numerous awards for involvement in criminal justice and human rights. He teaches criminal justice courses at universities in Sydney. His latest book (with Rachael Jane Chin) is "Frank & Fearless" (2019, NewSouth). He is a director of Justice Reform Initiative Ltd.
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Back to first principles on drugs
Just why is it so hard for politicians to see a better way forward in dealing with drugs in the community and to act on that vision? It is not for lack of evidence of what works to make things better and most of the community knows that. Continue reading »
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If crime is falling, why is imprisonment rising?
The Australian prison population has doubled since 2000 and recidivism is at 55%. Yet almost all categories of crime have fallen in the past decade. Why do we spend $3.6 billion a year (and rising) on a system across Australia that is clearly not serving us well or making us safer? There are alternatives available, Continue reading »
