Discover the Shocking Reason South Australia is Saying Goodbye to Traditional References with This Bold Campaign!

In South Australia, a groundbreaking campaign is challenging the status quo and seeking to rewrite the rules of the courtroom. The 'Your Reference Ain’t Relevant' campaign, spearheaded by two determined men, Harrison James and Jarad Grice, is taking a stand against a legal practice they believe undermines the severity of child sexual abuse crimes.

Harrison James, a survivor of child sexual abuse, found his path to justice obstructed when his stepmother, the perpetrator, fled the country. Left without the traditional sense of justice, Harrison, alongside Jarad Grice, another survivor-advocate, launched a campaign that could transform the legal landscape for survivors of such heinous crimes.


The campaign's focus is on section 11(4) of the Sentencing Act 2017, which currently allows convicted child sexual abuse perpetrators to present character references in court to potentially mitigate their sentences. While the law restricts the use of good character as a defense if it helped the perpetrator commit the offense, there's a loophole. Perpetrators who did not use their standing in the community to commit the crime, such as step-parents or family friends, can still leverage character references to their advantage.


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Victims of abuse rally behind the 'Your Reference Ain’t Relevant' campaign. Image Credit: Pexels/Neosiam


This practice, according to Harrison and Grice, can be 'absolutely devastating' for survivors. To hear the court extol the virtues of the person who inflicted such trauma upon them can feel like a betrayal, minimizing the survivor's suffering and the gravity of the crime.


The campaign's mission is to amend the law, preventing all convicted child sexual abuse offenders from using character references as a shield. The goal is to ensure that the justice system reflects the seriousness of the crime and the impact on the victim, rather than the supposed good character of the offender.

The duo's efforts have not gone unnoticed. They have been granted an audience with South Australia's Attorney-General, Kyam Maher, to discuss their proposed amendments. This meeting is a significant step forward, signaling that the voices of survivors are beginning to echo through the halls of power.

The campaign's reach has extended beyond individual cases, sparking a national conversation about the relevance and appropriateness of character references in the context of child sexual abuse. It has prompted a reevaluation of the principle of good character in the legal system, questioning whether it should have any place in the sentencing of those who commit such crimes.


The 'Your Reference Ain’t Relevant' campaign has even made its way to the Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG), a body that unites Attorneys-General from across Australia to promote legal reform. The fact that the campaign was discussed at this level is a testament to the momentum it has gained and the potential for real change.

For Harrison, Jarad, and countless survivors, this campaign is more than just a legal battle; it's about creating a safer future for children and ensuring that justice is served without bias or undue leniency. It's about making sure that the justice system does not inadvertently re-traumatize survivors by allowing perpetrators to hide behind a facade of good character.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, many of us have witnessed significant changes in our society and legal system over the years. We understand the importance of evolving our laws to better protect the vulnerable and support those who have suffered at the hands of others. This campaign is a reminder that justice should be blind to social standing and focused solely on the facts and impact of the crime.


Key Takeaways

  • Harrison James and Jarad Grice, survivors of child sexual abuse, have co-founded Your Reference Ain’t Relevant campaign in South Australia.
  • The campaign aims to prevent convicted child sexual abuse perpetrators from using character references to mitigate their sentences.
  • The campaigners are urging the South Australian Government to amend a section of the Sentencing Act 2017 that allows this legal loophole.
  • The campaign has gained momentum and was discussed at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General, showing national recognition for the need to reform these laws.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this campaign. Do you believe that character references should be excluded from the sentencing of child sexual abuse cases? How do you think the legal system can better serve the needs of survivors? Your insights are valuable, and we encourage a respectful discussion in the comments below.
 
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There should not be any character references for anyone charged with any form of child abuse. Anyone who has harmed a child particularly sexual abuse, should not be given any way out. I think enough children have suffered throughout time and not believed. Let the defendant and accused give their truth and let the jury decide. The victims don't have character references.
To say how much they suffered.
Kind regards to all Vicki
 
Just because someone emits a pleasant and honourable front to society doesn’t mean they are not predators. In fact it is often the case that they present this ‘face’ in order to gain a child’s confidence and then commit the offence. This is called ‘grooming ‘ a child so it is obviously not an indication of their innocence. Good character references therefore mean nothing
 
Who cares if you have a great character reference? If you’ve abused a child then it’s off to jail & see how far a great reference gets you in prison.
An improvised shiv repeatedly applied to various organs and appendages to the perpetrator, regardless of gender.

Don't worry, I've seen the result of such while serving time in Queensland's Maryborough Correction Centre. A worthy victim from the "Boneyard", the so called protective custody section of kiddy fiddlers and rapists. Death to the whole lot of them!
 
Also there needs to be a Federal Law. All this BS, that States all have different rules and regulations, especially re Child Abusers, need to be across the board. And not only off to jail, but Hard Labour. Lock them up and throw away the key.
Hard labour? Such inmates are placed in protection, stuck in a solitary cell for 23 hours a day with the remaining hour spent in the outside, fully supervised with supposedly minimal contact with other inmates.
An improvised shiv repeatedly applied to various organs and appendages to the perpetrator, regardless of gender.

Don't worry, I've seen the result of such while serving time in Queensland's Maryborough Correction Centre. A worthy victim from the "Boneyard", the so called protective custody section of kiddy fiddlers and rapists. Death to the whole lot of them!
Works well most of the time....
 
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An improvised shiv repeatedly applied to various organs and appendages to the perpetrator, regardless of gender.

Don't worry, I've seen the result of such while serving time in Queensland's Maryborough Correction Centre. A worthy victim from the "Boneyard", the so called protective custody section of kiddy fiddlers and rapists. Death to the whole lot of them!
I usually don't agree with any form of violence. But l am with you veggiepatch on this matter.
Kind regards Vicki
 
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I'd love to be a judge in such a trial. If the crook & his team of crook legal reps wished to present such character references on their behalf, being a judge, I'd ask the court staff to copy all references. I'd then give the originals back to them, put the copies together & rip them up. I'd then hand the ripped up copies back to them & tell them to use it as "Shit" paper.
 
An improvised shiv repeatedly applied to various organs and appendages to the perpetrator, regardless of gender.

Don't worry, I've seen the result of such while serving time in Queensland's Maryborough Correction Centre. A worthy victim from the "Boneyard", the so called protective custody section of kiddy fiddlers and rapists. Death to the whole lot of them!
So totally agree. They ruin a child for life.
 

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