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A/Prof. John Anderson

Work Phone (02) 4921 7099
Fax (02) 4921 6931
Email
Position Associate Professor
Newcastle Law School
The University of Newcastle, Australia
Office MC180, McMullin Building

Biography

Dr Anderson practised exclusively in criminal law and reached the position of senior solicitor/advocate in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) before changing to an academic career.

Dr Anderson completed his PhD in 2003. His thesis involved an in-depth analysis of the natural life sentence for murder in New South Wales and the question of equal application of the law in sentencing. Dr Anderson has published several articles and conferences papers arising from this and other research dealing with sentencing and related aspects of the criminal justice system. Dr Anderson currently lectures in various courses taught by the Newcastle Law School, including Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Trial Process and Sport and the Law. He has received four teaching awards and citations recognising excellence in teaching, most recently a NSW Quality Teaching Award in December 2008.

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Newcastle, 2003
  • Bachelor of Legal Studies, Macquarie University

Research

Research keywords

  • Criminal Justice System
  • Criminal Law
  • Law of evidence
  • Procedure
  • Sentencing

Research expertise

The overarching concept of my research scholarship has been related to questions of unfairness and inequity in the criminal justice system, particularly the sentencing of offenders and treating like cases alike. More recently I have moved into researching various aspects of evidence law. Also, I have been involved in a collaborative project with colleagues in the Faculty of Health, Health Behaviour Research Centre, to develop a research methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of modifying the sentencing practices of magistrates in local courts on rates of new and repeat alcohol-related criminal offending.

Sentencing of offenders in the criminal justice system

The law of evidence, particularly identification evidence, and tendency and coincidence evidence

The offence of arson and its legal regulation

Issues of fairness and equity in the criminal justice system

Sport and the law, particularly the inter-relationship of the criminal law generally with sporting contests and drugs in sport

Collaboration

The overarching concept of my research scholarship has been related to questions of unfairness and inequity in the criminal justice system, particularly the sentencing of offenders and treating like cases alike. More recently I have moved into researching various aspects of evidence law. Also, I have been involved in a collaborative project with colleagues in the Faculty of Health, Health Behaviour Research Centre, to develop a research methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of modifying the sentencing practices of magistrates in local courts on rates of new and repeat alcohol-related criminal offending.

Fields of Research

Code Description Percentage
180110 Criminal Law And Procedure 80
160299 Criminology Not Elsewhere Classified 20

Teaching

Teaching keywords

  • Criminal Law and Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Sport and the Law
  • Trial Process

Teaching interests

  • Evidence
  • Criminal Law and Procedure
  • Sport and the Law
  • Trial Process
  • Advanced Criminal Law
  • Advanced Legal Research and Writing

Programs

Courses