Legal Studies- Webquest on Law Reforms

LEGAL STUDIES- WEBQUEST 1. Conditions that give rise to law reform * Changing social values- The Law will reflect these changing social values i.e. Decriminalisation of homosexuality and prostitution. * New concepts of justice- Changing views of punishments and the concepts and truths of being sentenced for a crime. * New technology- New areas of crime e.g. Computer crime along with new ways of criminal investigation and interrogation i.e. through DNA samples or evidence, blood sample testing. Medical advances including birth technology often raise ethical issues and also create the need for law reform. 2. Agencies of reform
Roles of courts and Parliaments
The role of courts and parliaments in law reform is to change laws that have been either requested to ‘modernize’ or have been dated since the law was first established. Courts usually change or modify laws that get brought up in court cases or by individuals. The procedure that needs to be followed in firstly the house of reps and then to the senate to become a new law.
Role of NSW law reform commission * The commission is given the task of reforming the general law by:
-eliminating defects and anachronisms,
-repealing obsolete or unnecessary enactments,
-consolidating, codifying or revising the law,
-simplifying or modernising the law,
-adopting new or more effective methods for the administration of the law, and
-systematically developing and reforming the law * Four current LRC projects
- Bail
- Penalty notice offences
- Review of compensation to relatives
- cheating and gambling

* Flow chart of steps in Law reform

* Catalysts of change in NSW