It sounds like a parlour game moral dilemma. But if you're the most powerful man in the world, 82 years old and about to retire, why not save your surviving son from a possible prison sentence?
Tasmania will pay $75m to kids whose lives were ruined at a prison which is still open, despite years of promises to shut it
If millions of taxpayers' dollars, wrecked lives and "harrowing" stories of abuse aren't enough to speed up the closure of Tasmania's notorious Ashley youth prison, then what is?
Photo shows Hands clasping at prison cell bars, good generic for prison, detention, jail, confinementThe community group pushing for change amid record-high Aboriginal incarceration rates
Wiradjuri woman Carly Stanley previously worked in corrective services. Now she and her community are breaking the cycle of justice involvement in the lives of Aboriginal people.
Photo shows An image of an Indigenous woman wearing a black shirt and her hair in a ponytail, smiling with artwork in the backgroundJudge says NSW trial delays are 'intolerable' as he refuses bail for man who will wait over two years for his day in court
A District Court judge has criticised a lack of government funding for the state's courts and the long waiting times for trials while hearing an accused man's bail application.
Photo shows Judge in robes.Cover that rainbow: Japanese lawsuit challenges the right of judges to police clothing
Can clothing disrupt a fair trial? That's a question before the courts in Japan.
Photo shows A composite image of a Japanese man, with a pair of rainbow socks and grey hoodie.Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason follows through with resignation after assault conviction
The Tasmanian government receives justice Gregory Geason's resignation, a day before parliament was to ask the governor to sack him.
Photo shows A man in a fawn-coloured coat smiles at the camera.Queensland's new government to axe drug laws, against the advice of police and doctors
Queensland's new premier has confirmed the LNP will repeal drug laws that are diverting thousands of people from the criminal justice system and have the support of police and doctors.
Photo shows Four bags of drugs, one containing brown granules and another with white cubesIf a child commits murder in Queensland, they could soon face the same penalties as an adult
Queensland's new premier wants to introduce laws to imprison children who commit "adult crimes" to "adult time" before Christmas. Here's how that could work.
Topic:Explainer
Photo shows A barbed wire fence with a security camera in the background'Extremely traumatic': Legal expert says NT prisoner reshuffle leaving vulnerable women in the dark
Female inmates from Alice Springs have been relocated 1,500 kilometres away to Darwin to ease pressure on a buckling prison system but lawyers say the move could impede access to legal services for vulnerable prisoners.
Photo shows A man wearing handcuffsNational anti-corruption watchdog chief's future in question after Robodebt decision
The head of the anti-corruption watchdog is facing calls to step aside following a review into a decision to not investigate Robodebt referrals.
Photo shows A close shot of Brereton, who is sitting in the offices of the new national anti--corruption commissionLegal Aid NT's funding crisis leaves man facing Supreme Court trial without a lawyer
Northern Territory lawyers predicted profound consequences if Legal Aid NT cut critical services. Three weeks later, some forecasts have started coming true.
Photo shows A white, modernist, flat-fronted building with "supreme court" in capital letters above a wide entrance.LNP has pledged to reform youth detention. But a criminologist says there are flaws in the plan
The LNP's plan to mandate education within youth detention if elected has been met with doubt as the sector continues to struggle through staff shortages.
Photo shows Red brick buildings surrounded by high black fences.Aboriginal politician warns people sleeping rough to go bush or risk jailtime under tough new laws
As the NT government brings tough new public drinking measures to parliament, an independent politician is warning Aboriginal people sleeping rough to consider leaving town centres.
Photo shows a photo of a man in a suit speaking with a building in the backgroundCrystal's newborn son spent his first 10 months in prison, while she waited almost a year on remand
Crystal's baby was born in jail while she waited for her case to be processed. Her wait for justice is not uncommon in the NT, where the courts are so backlogged that unprecedented numbers of people are being left to languish on remand.
Photo shows A woman looks sternly at the camera.Addicts left with 'nowhere' to go amid 'disastrous levels' of methamphetamine use in WA
A criminal lawyer in the state's far north says clients with methamphetamine addiction on remand or bail have been left with no treatment options, amid concerns the drug's use in the region has reached dire proportions.
Photo shows a needle in the sandHigh-profile child researcher among those concerned about a lack of change in WA's youth detention system
A year ago today, WA's youth detention system reached what was meant to be its lowest point — a child's death in custody. What has changed? WARNING: This story discusses incidents of self-harm.
Photo shows Three people stare blank faced at a camera on an off-white backgroundAfter years spent 'less than human' in overseas detention, Australians share their stories of returning home
They tell stories of spending days in solitary confinement, being denied access to proper food and water, as well as prolonged physical and psychological torture, as part of an ongoing Senate inquiry.
Photo shows Hands hang out of a dark jail cell'I'll make you number four': Accused serial killer made threat, court hears
A man accused of murdering three people allegedly threatened a fellow inmate last year by telling him he would make him "number four", a court has heard.
Photo shows A man standing in a park