Contributors

Lawyer and Doctoral candidate Andrew Caple the project research officer said:
"This project involves the publication of a web based resource to enable lawyers and other professionals working in the criminal justice system to readily access procedural and substantive guidance in order to effectively represent disabled persons. There will be a focus on the issues of fitness to plead, unsoundness of mind, and an illumination of the relationship between the Mental Health Act 2000 and the general criminal law."The QCJC emanated from TASC's multi award winning Disability Law Project which provides legal support, representation and advocacy services to disabled defendants in Toowoomba. The QCJC will build upon this important work but will expand to include other marginalised and vulnerable groups into the future, and the challenge to expand this work across Queensland is critical to providing access to justice for all Queenslanders."

Andrew is a Doctoral candidate at the Queensland University of Technology and Queensland Criminal Justice Centre Principal Researcher.  Prior to QCJC Andrew worked as an Assistant in Nursing and a Personal Carer for ten years. He studied law at Griffith University graduating as a University Medallist and after spending time as a Judge's Associate in the District Court he won an Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship to analyse the principle of open justice in Queensland's Mental Health Review Tribunal and Mental Health Court. He has taught several undergraduate law courses and is currently developing a Masters unit in Mental Health Law to commence in July 2009.