In using the prescribed text book "Legal Studies Preliminary" written by Hamper Boesenberg Kenny and many other sources I have gained sound knowledge in the roles of various enforcement agencies, discussed the limitations of legal aid and evaluated the usefulness of alternatives to the court system in resolving disputes.
Enforcement agencies are bodies that have the role of enforcing certain laws. Acts of parliament have created the agencies and include bodies such as government departments and police.
The main roles of police are to; prevent crime, investigate crime and arrest the perpetrators of crimes. The Australian federal police also enforce criminal law where crimes cross state boundaries, or are in breech of federal law. The police are principally concerned with enforcing criminal law. They have the power to arrest any person who they suspect of committing or having committed a crime. They cannot however arrest a person simply to question them.
Legal Aid Ontario
English: Front of the Legal Aid Justice Center in ...
Diagram of the wikipedia dispute resolution proces...Some commonwealth and state government departments have powers to enforce specific laws for example; under the income tax assessment act 1936 (cwlth), the Australian tax office has the power to investigate and prosecute matters in relation to taxation. Other agencies such as the environmental protection agency have enforcement powers. For example, the EPA can issue fines and prosecute businesses and individuals for an illegal polluting and other environmental crimes. Other organizations such as wildlife service, national parks and fishery department also enforce environmental laws.
Under the Australian legal system a person does not automatically have the right to a lawyer. Though, there is widespread recognition that in a criminal trial a person without legal representation is unlikely to receive a fair trial. To try and overcome this problem, legal aid has been established. The New South Wales legal aid commission provides advice and representation to people who cannot...