Staff
All current staff members are listed on this page and are linked to a more detailed section showing contact details, a profile, current activities and publications.
- Ingrid Ahmer - Assistant Database Manager/Programmer
- Graham Bath - Manager, CARS
- Carol Castle - Database Manager
- Tina Conroy - Office Administrator/Information Officer
- Bevan Fletcher - Senior Research and Evaluation Officer
- Natalie Gatis - Acting Office Administrator/Information Officer
- Nina Hudson - Senior Evaluation Officer
- Nichole Hunter - Acting Deputy Director
- Jayne Marshall - Senior Research Officer
- Bev O'Brien - Evaluation Manager
- Sophie Ransom - Senior Research Officer, CARS
- Lynne Sampson - Codes Project Officer
- Grace Skrzypiec - Senior Research & Statistical Officer
- Paul Thomas - Acting Director
- Richard Yin - Data Analyst/Administrator, CARS
- Emma Ziersch - Senior Research Officer, CARS
Ingrid Ahmer - Assistant Database Manager/Programmer
Ph: (08) 8207 2164 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
B.A. (Maths), Flinders
Grad Dip Computer Science, Adelaide
BSc (Hons) Computer Science, Adelaide
M.Eng (Res) Telecommunications, UniSA
Ingrid is a member of the Data Management Team that maintains OCSAR’s information and database systems and provides criminal justice data to researchers both within the office and externally. She joined the Office in June 2004 and has a professional background in computing and mathematics. Her computing experience encompasses work in government, industry, insurance, academic and research organisations. Prior to commencing with OCSAR, Ingrid performed applied mathematics research at University of Adelaide.
Ingrid maintains OCSAR’s automated systems to produce detailed reports for a wide range of geographical areas in South Australia. These reports provide a comprehensive analysis of data relating to demography, recorded offences and apprehensions and are also used to provide briefings on local crime trends for Community Cabinet meetings. Ingrid is currently involved in the redevelopment of OCSAR’s annual Crime and Justice reports as XML tables for dissemination on the web.
Graham Bath - Manager, CARS
Ph: (08) 8207 1728 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Associate Diploma in Computer & Information Science,
University of South Australia, 1994
Postgraduate Certificate in Spatial Information Science,
University of Adelaide, 2000
Graham began work on the National Comprehensive Auto-theft Research System (CARS) project at OCSAR in July 2000. Graham's role is to manage all aspects of the CARS project. Graham has Information Technology industry experience through contract and permanent positions in both Adelaide and Canberra. More specifically he has experience in data warehousing (Centrelink) and client/server application development (WorkCover SA), and as a business analyst and report writer for a large chemical manufacturing plant (Penrice Soda).
Graham is responsible for managing CARS and further development and maintenance of the CARS website and Analyser web application. He is also supervising the major project of migrating to a SQL Server 2005 platform for the processing, storage, analysis and reporting on CARS data.
Carol Castle - Database Manager
Ph: (08) 8207 1575 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Carol has been the Database Manager for the Office of Crime Statistics and Research since late 1997 and manages the Data Management Team. Before that, she managed the Lower Court databases for the Office. She also manages the Law Codes and Offence Codes applications on the Justice Information System on behalf of South Australia’s criminal justice community. The Law Codes and Offence Codes applications are a centralised mainframe based system of representing and classifying offences.
Carol is responsible for OCSAR’s data collections and also maintains a comprehensive Offender/Victim based tracking system, using data supplied by a number of criminal justice and related agencies in South Australia. Most of the data held by OCSAR are extracted from operational systems, downloaded onto a PC-based system managed by the Office of Crime Statistics and Research. This PC-based system is used to service OCSAR’s core functions, involving statistical monitoring and analysis, research and evaluation. The Data Management Team also maintains a suite of ancillary products to provide a context for the interpretation of criminal justice data. These products include a regular report on Major Legislative Change and a significants events register.
Publications
Restraining Orders and Stalking Offences in 1995 and 1996
Reports
Explanations for the High Proportion of SA matters classified by the ABS as withdrawn in 2001/02
Drink Driving Report 1: Offences finalised in the Magistrates Court of South Australia, 1995
Tina Conroy - Office Administrator/Information Officer
Ph: (08) 8207 1731 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Certificate IV in Management
Certificate IV in Leadership and Transactional Analysis
Diploma of Human Resource Management
Tina has worked for the Attorney-General's Department since 1990 in various roles. As well as acting as Secretary to the Director of Human Resources, Tina has worked in the administrative area of the State Ombudsman Office, Crown Solicitor's Office and the Library. She joined the Office of Crime Statistics and Research in August 2000.
As the Office Administrator/Information Officer, Tina oversees the administrative function of the Office, provides confidential support to the Director, Deputy Director and other Office staff and provides information to inquirers about statistics as requested. Tina also performs some administrative work across the Division.
Tina is currently on extended leave and will return to the office in 2008.
Publications
Offences reported to Police in 2004, the victims and alleged perpetrators
Correctional Services Statistics, 2004
Correctional Services Statistics, 2003
Higher Courts Statistics, 2003
Offences cleared by way of an Apprehension, 2003
Magistrates Court Statistics, 2003
Incidents and Offences reported to Police in 2003
Bevan Fletcher - Senior Research and Evaluation Officer
Ph: (08) 8207 2157 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Laws - University of Adelaide
Bevan joined the Office in 2004 and is responsible for the provision of project evaluation and evaluation advice in relation to a range of crime prevention projects. In addition, Bevan provides evaluation advice and assistance to a range of agencies to assist them in undertaking their own evaluation and monitoring activity. Prior to this appointment, Bevan worked in an evaluation consultancy firm specialising in the health and community services sectors. Bevan has completed several evaluations since joining the Office, including evaluations of the SAPOL Fake ID, Sexual Offence Awareness Programs, the DECS Crime Prevention Education Program, the Crime Prevention Unit's Regional Crime Prevention Program, the Bush Breakaway Youth Mentoring Program and the SAVTRC Immobiliser Scheme.
Currently Bevan is involved in a range of diverse evaluations and activities including evaluations of Bush Breakaway (an Indigenous youth mentoring program in Ceduna); and a car immobiliser scheme for the South Australian Vehicle Theft Reduction Council. In addition, Bevan provides evaluation advice and assistance to a range of agencies to assist them in undertaking their own evaluation and monitoring activity.
Publications
Adult CARDS Final Evaluation Report 2007
Evaluation of the Crime Prevention Education Program
Evaluation of the Sexual Offences Awareness Program (SOAP)
Evaluation of the Fake ID Project
Natalie Gatis - Acting Office Administrator/Information Officer
Ph: (08) 8204 9569 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Prior to joining the Office of Crime Statistics and Research in January 2000, Natalie has previously been employed in various administrative roles within the Health system for a number of years.
Natalie provides administrative support to the Director, Deputy Director and other Office staff. The Office has a Criminology Library on-site that Natalie maintains. Natalie also prepares the OCSAR Newsletter for publication. This Newsletter is released bi-monthly and has all the up-to-date news on the latest reports that have been released by the Office along with staff developments.
Natalie is currently acting as the Office Administrator/Information Officer.
Nina Hudson - Senior Evaluation Officer
Ph: (08) 8207 1727 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Adelaide
Barrister and Solicitor in the Supreme Court of South Australia
Masters (MPhil) in Criminology, University of Cambridge
Nina joined OCSAR in late 2006. Prior to this she worked as a Research Lawyer at Howard Zelling Chambers in Adelaide and as a Judge's Associate in the District Court of South Australia. After completing her Masters at the University of Cambridge in July 2006, she spent a brief time working in London as a paralegal in criminal and civil litigation before returning to South Australia to take up her position at OCSAR.
Nina's research interests lie in criminal law and policy, particularly in the areas of sentencing, offender decision-making and crime prevention programs.
Nina is currently responsible for the provision of project evaluation and evaluation advice in relation to criminal justice initiatives, such as the Wakefield Youth Alcohol Diversion Pilot Program (also known as the Youth Alcohol Referral Network or YARN) and the Police Drug Diversion Initiative (PDDI).
Publications
PDDI Final Evaluation Report 2008
CARDS - A statistical overview of the first year of the pilot
Nichole Hunter - Acting Deputy Director
Ph: (08) 8207 1513 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Master of Arts (Criminology), University of Melbourne
Since joining the Office in 1999, Nichole has undertaken studies on a diverse range of topics, including home invasion, remand in custody, juvenile justice and graffiti vandalism. She has also been involved in the evaluations of the Magistrates Court Diversion Program and Drug Court Pilot Program and in Monitoring the Adelaide Dry Area
Publications
Recorded Crime - Victims, 2005: The South Australian Perspective
Crime and Safety, 2005: The South Australian Perspective
Criminal Courts Australia 2004/05 (ABS, 4513.0): Key findings for South Australia
Monitoring the Adelaide Dry Area - an update
Recorded Crime - Victims, 2004: The South Australian Perspective
Juvenile Justice in South Australia: Where are we now?
Explanations for the High Proportion of SA matters classified by the ABS as withdrawn in 2001/02
Burvill, M., Dusmohamed, S., Hunter, N. and McRostie, H. (2003). The management of mentally impaired offenders within the South Australian criminal justice system. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, Volume 26, Issue 1, January - February 2003
National crime statistics: An update 2001. The South Australian perspective
Cases committed to the higher courts in 2000: Time taken to finalise
Cannabis Expiation Notices (CENs) in South Australia, 1997 - 2000
Graffiti vandalism: cases finalised in the Magistrates and Youth Courts, 1997 - 2000
Magistrates Court Diversion Program
National Crime Statistics: An update 2000. The South Australian Perspective
Crime and Safety in South Australia: Key findings from the ABS 2000 Survey.
Robbery in a dwelling incidents: tracking from report to apprehension.
Robbery in a dwelling or home invasion?
Jayne Marshall - Senior Research Officer
Ph: (08) 8207 1735 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
B.A. (Politics) Adelaide, 1986
Master of Social Science (Applied Social Research), University of
South Australia, 1998
Jayne has recently completed a paper on juvenile offending trajectories, based on the offending patterns of the 1984 birth cohort between the ages of 10 and 20. Jayne is currently working on a feasibility study looking at the relationship between mental illness, drug use and offending in South Australia. She has also just commenced a project on drink driving recidivism, with an emphasis on the criminal justice response to drink driving.
Publications
Juvenile Offending Trajectories: A South Australian study
Criminal Courts South Australia 2003-04
National crime statistics: An update 2003. The South Australian perspective
A profile of remandees in custody in South Australia on 30 June 2002
Male Custodial Remand in South Australia
National crime statistics: An update 2001. The South Australian perspective
Drug related property crime in South Australia in 2000
National Crime Statistics: An update 2000. The South Australian Perspective
Crime and Safety in South Australia: Key findings from the ABS 2000 Survey. April 2001
Robbery in a dwelling or home invasion?
Home Invasion in South Australia
Higher Criminal Court Statistics 1996/97 - The South Australian Perspective
National Crime Statistics - An Update 1997 - The South Australian Perspective
Restraining Orders and Stalking Offences in 1995 and 1996
Reports
Gambling Related Crime in South Australia A report prepared for the Independent Gambling Authority
Aboriginal People and the Criminal Justice System. Report No 1
Drink Driving Report 1: Offences finalised in the Magistrates Court of South Australia, 1995
Remand in Custody: A statistical
overview of custodial remand in South Australia.
This report, released in December 1998 is available in printed
form for $11.00 (includes GST, Postage and Handling).
Seminar & Conference Papers
Juvenile offending trajectories - A South Australian study.
Presented at 'Understanding and responding to chronic
youth offending conference' 27 October 2005
Bev O'Brien - Evaluation Manager
Ph: (08) 8207 1785 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
BA (Hons) Flinders University
PhD (Sociology), University of Newcastle
Bev joined the Office of Crime Statistics and Research in 2001. Prior to that she worked for several years with the Social Policy Research Group, UniSA. Her research interests span a range of social policy areas including families, youth, law, illicit drugs, domestic violence, aged care, community wellbeing and Indigenous specific programs. She has particular expertise in qualitative research methods and program evaluation.
Bev is responsible for the project management and supervision of evaluations and projects conducted within OCSAR involving significant qualitative research and for the provision of an evaluation advice service to criminal justice agencies.
Publications
PDDI Final Evaluation Report 2008
Adult CARDS Final Evaluation Report 2007
CARDS - A statistical overview of the first year of the pilot
Evaluation of the Sexual Offences Awareness Program (SOAP)Chung, D., Kennedy, R., O'Brien, B., & Wendt, S. 2000, Home Safe Home: the link between domestic and family violence and women's homelessness, AGPS, Canberra. Please contact Bev for available formats.
Kerr, L., O'Brien, B and Savelsberg, H., 2000, Experiences and perceptions of educational and vocational pathways of disadvantaged young people not in receipt of Youth Allowance, Social Policy Research Group, University of South Australia. Please contact Bev for available formats.
Gursansky, D., Harvey, J., McGrath, B and O'Brien, B., (1999), Who's minding the Kids - developing coordinated services for children whose mothers are imprisoned, Social Policy Research Group, University of South Australia. Please contact Bev for available formats.
Sophie Ransom (nee Kriven) - Senior Research Officer, CARS
Ph: (08) 8207 1729 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
BA(Hons) Psychology
Graduate Certificate in Public Health
Sophie began working with the Office of Crime Statistics and Research in May 2005 on the National CARS (Comprehensive Auto-theft Research System) Project. Sophie has previously worked in the Tobacco Control Research and Evaluation Program at The Cancer Council South Australia and in the Dental Statistics and Research Unit at the University of Adelaide. Sophie is currently completing her Master in Public Health.
As well as producing regular statistical reports on motor vehicle theft throughout Australia, Sophie is involved in a number of research projects, including a study of vehicle-assisted crime in Australia. Sophie is currently a member of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council's Expert Reference Group on unrecovered stolen vehicles.
Publications
Kriven, S. and Ziersch, E. (2007). New car security and shifting vehicle theft patterns in Australia. Security Journal, vol. 20, no. 2, pp 111-122.
A profile of vehicle theft-related arson in New South Wales and South Australia
Light commercial vehicles stolen in Australia, October 2004 - September 2005
Lynne Sampson - Codes Project Officer
Ph: (08) 8207 1786 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Certificate IV in Justice Studies
Diploma in Justice Administration
Lynne has worked in para-legal, network administration and database administration positions within the Attorney-General's Department since 1986.
In 2007 Lynne will commence studies towards the Bachelor of Social Science (Justice Administration) at the University of South Australia (Magill campus).
Lynne is responsible for the maintenance of the Law Codes and Offence Codes applications on the Justice Information System. These applications are a centralised mainframe based system used to identify and classify offences and provide penalty information.
Lynne also maintains the Commonwealth and State legislation collections within the Office and monitors the progress of Bills through Parliament.
As part of the Data Management Team, Lynne prepares the Major Legislative Changes in the Criminal Law report on a regular basis. In addition, she maintains several in-house databases, including the Significant Events Register, and assists with maintenance of other data collections managed by the Office.
Publications
Major Changes to the Criminal Law in South Australia 1998-2005
Grace Skrzypiec - Senior Research & Statistical Officer
Ph: (08) 8207 2047 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Bachelor of Science,
University of Adelaide.
Honours - Psychology, University of Adelaide.
Graduate Diploma in Education, University of South
Australia.
Master of Education (research), University of Adelaide.
Prior to joining OCSAR in 2003 Grace worked for the CSIRO and the University of South Australia as a lecturer in Consumer Behaviour. Grace is currently pursuing PhD studies in Criminology at Griffith University, Queensland. Her interests include forensic statistics, crime modelling and recidivism.
Grace is involved with the statistical component of projects undertaking statistical analyses to provide evidence and support for projects in Justice. She also assists in setting up databases for specific projects so that the appropriate data can be collected. Grace is continuing her research in juvenile offending for her PhD thesis.
Publications
The South Australian Drug Court - an analysis of participant retention rates.
Young people born in 1984 - Offending behaviour of juveniles apprehended at least once
Offending from 16 to 20 years of age - Identifying youth for intensive intervention
Young people born in 1984 - extent of involvement with the juvenile justice system
Magistrates Court Diversion Program: An analysis of post-program offending (full report).
Magistrates Court Diversion Program: An analysis of post-program offending (short report).
Paul Thomas - Acting Director, OCSAR + Director, National CARS Project
Ph: (08) 8207 1669 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
B.Sc. (Hons), Adelaide
Paul commenced work with OCSAR in 1990 as a Research Officer with responsibility for maintaining and analysing
the Office's Magistrates Court Data collection systems. In 1994 he established the South Australian CARS
(Comprehensive Auto-theft Research System) Project and in 1999 managed the expansion of the CARS database to a
national project with funding from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council Inc.
In 2002 Paul was appointed Deputy Director of the Office. Paul is a member of the South Australian
Vehicle Theft Reduction Committee (1995 - onwards), and is the Immediate Past President of the Australasian
Branch of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI) and served on the International Board
of IAATI in 2003-2005.
As Deputy Director of OCSAR, Paul is responsible for OCSAR's statistical monitoring and information services work areas. Paul is also Director of the National CARS Project.
Publications
Motor Vehicle Theft in South Australia 2001/2002
Motor Vehicle Theft in South Australia 2000/2001
Motor Vehicle Theft in South Australia 1999/2000
Motor Vehicle Theft in South Australia, 1998: A statistical report from the CARS database
Motor Vehicle Theft in South Australia, 1997: A statistical report from the CARS database
Motor Vehicle Theft in South Australia, 1996: A statistical report from the CARS database
Motor Vehicle Theft in South Australia, 1995: A statistical report from the CARS database
S.A. Crime and Safety Survey, 1991: Break and Enter Offences.
Kirby, N.H. and Thomas, P.D. (1989). Choice Inspection and Responding Times, Personality and Individual Differences, 10, pp 1301-1310.
Seminar & Conference Papers
"Analysing vehicle theft issues using CARS". Presentation to Insurance Australia Group (IAG), Strategic Analysis Training Day, Sydney NSW. 16 December 2005.
"Exploring the links between drugs and crime" Presented at Illicit Drugs and Crime: Exploring South Australia's Responses, Adelaide. 9 December 2005.
"Motor Vehicle Theft: data driven policy development". Paper presented to New Zealand Police Service - Vehicle Crime Workshop, Wellington, 17-19 March 2004
"Establishing a National Vehicle Theft Research and Monitoring Collection". Presented at the Australian Institute of Criminology and Australian Bureau of Statistics Conference "Evaluation in Crime and Justice: Trends and Methods", Canberra 24th-25th March 2003.
"Engine Immobilisers: How Effective Are They?" R. Potter and P Thomas. Presented at the 9th IAATI Australasian Branch Conference, Adelaide, March 4 - 6th, 2002.
"Vehicle Theft Statistics - What do they tell us" Presented at the Australian Institute of Criminology and National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council Conference, "Reducing Car Theft: How Low Can We Go?", Adelaide, 30th November - 1st December, 2000. (pdf)
"Tackling Motor Vehicle Theft: The Australian Approach" Presented at the European Secure Vehicle Alliance 6th Annual Conference, London, 17th June, 1998.
"Government Initiatives in Tackling Motor Vehicle Theft" Presented at the 5th International Association of Vehicle Theft Investigators, Australasian Branch Conference, Sydney, March 11-13th, 1998.
"CARS - the monitoring, research and evaluation of motor vehicle thefts in South Australia" Presented at the Australian Institute of Criminology's 2nd National Outlook Symposium, Canberra, 3rd & 4th March 1997 (pdf)
"The South Australian CARS Project" Presented at the 3rd International Association of Vehicle Theft Investigators, Australasian Branch Conference, Adelaide, June 17th-19th, 1996.
"Victimisation and fear amongst the elderly: An examination of two community surveys." Presented at the Australian Institute of Criminology Crime and Older People Conference, 23-25th February, 1993, Adelaide.
"Choice Inspection and Responding Times". Presented at the Australian Psychology Society's 1989 Annual Conference, 25-29 September 1989, Hobart.
Richard Yin - Database Analyst/Administrator, CARS
Ph: (08) 8226 4159 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, University of SA, 1995
Richard joined the Office in March 2004 as Data Analyst/ Administrator, on the National CARS Project. Richard previously worked as Support Services Engineer, Market Analyst and Market and Metering Services Engineer in the electricity industry.
Richard processes the monthly, quarterly and six-monthly data received from police, registration authorities and insurance companies across Australia, Glass's Guide and Polk and ongoing maintenance of CARS databases. Richard is also involved in producing yearly reports and the provision of data to clients both internal and external. Currently he is modifying and streamlining the CARS data processing procedures and preparing the CARS database and processing procedures to new database, SQL Server 2005.
Emma Ziersch - Senior Research Officer, CARS
Ph: (08) 8207 1954 - Fax: (08) 8204 9575
Profile
BA (Hons) Adelaide
Emma began work with the Office of Crime Statistics in December 2001 working on the National CARS Project (Comprehensive Auto-theft Research System). Prior to joining the National CARS Project, Emma worked at the Courts Improvement Unit within the Courts Administration Authority.
Emma is involved in a number of research projects relating to car theft, both in South Australia and nationally. These include quarterly and yearly reports and the provision of data to clients. Emma is currently working on a longitudinal study of road accidents involving stolen vehicles in South Australia.
Publications
Kriven, S. and Ziersch, E. (2007). New car security and shifting vehicle theft patterns in Australia. Security Journal, vol. 20, no. 2, pp 111-122.
Drug Use and Vehicle Crime - an analysis of DUMA data on offenders arrested for motor vehicle theft
Motor Vehice Theft in South Australia - A Profile of Juvenile Offenders