Rethinking Gambling in the Justice System

“We have drug courts for people who engage in criminal activity because of their drug problems and we need to recognise gambling in the same way,” Dr Angela Rintoul, Assoc Prof, Federation University

This presentation examines the often-overlooked issue of gambling addiction within the justice system, contrasting it with well-recognized drug addiction. We will screen a compelling story of a 64 year old woman incarcerated due to gambling-related crime, who was told in court “Your gambling does not possess great weight in the mitigation of your sentence”.  We aim to foster a deeper understanding of gambling addiction, and its commonalities with drug and alcohol addictions.

Following the screening, possible alternative approaches within the justice system will be explored, advocating for comprehensive support and rehabilitation strategies for those harmed by gambling, and how this might influence sentencing, similar to in drug courts.

Judy Avisar | Coordinator, Three Sides of the Coin Gambling Harm Project, SHARC

Judy coordinates Three Sides of the Coin (3SOC) gambling harm project since its inception 14 years ago. Through storytelling, performances about addiction and recovery are devised with people with lived experience, creating a successful model for Professional Development in allied sectors (drugs, alcohol, mental health, family violence, criminal justice). https://threesidesofthecoin.org.au/

Elena Campbell | CIJ Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT

Elena has worked in legal and social policy for over 20 years. At CIJ she oversees research focusing on the way trauma can push women into contact with the criminal justice system.  She is the principle author of “Compulsion, convergence or crime? Criminal justice system contact as a form of gambling harm

Credited Persons

Carolyn Crawford | Lived Experience Storyteller, Three Sides of the Coin, SHARC

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