CHANGING SOCIAL VALUES
Changing social values gives a challenge to law makers to make new laws and amend existing laws up to society's expectations. Changing social values is one of the ways in which society influences the need of creating law reform. Society influences law reform in many ways. Some social values include race, gender, families, children, violence, personal responsibility and law itself. Social values are not necessarily the same as individual values. although they are both influenced by individuals judgement. When the majority of society have similar views on an issue, the views are said to reflect public morality. Laws must follow value of society to be assured of a high compliance rate. Australia itself is a multicultural society, so the opinions and expectations of society can change, especially if there is anything approaching on consensus.
NEW CONCEPTS OF JUSTICE
If social values change, then so will concepts of justice. If a law isn't able to produce a good enough outcome to individuals and a community, a new law reform may be necessary. Particular punishments (e.g. capital punishment) were seen as the best way of dealing with people who committed the worst crimes. This eventually brought up breakdown of a criminals family breakdown. This punishment was stopped in each Australian State, although the murder rate remained the same. There was also strong arguments against the punishment as there was a chance of killing someone who has been wrongly convicted. Due to arguments like these, capital punishment is not permitted by any Australian jurisdiction, therefore capital punishment is no longer purposeful.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
New technology has an effect on the law. It puts the law under pressure to remain as it is. It contributes to changes that may be either radical and sweeping or subtle and incremental. Introductions and developments of life support devices and treatment has meant that the legal definition of death has changed. Other developments in technology include birth technology. Developments in birth technology has begun to change laws for issues including parenting, inheritance and financial issues. A major advancement in technology is the use of DNA evidence. DNA evidence has led to higher chances of cases being solved and many 'cold cases' have been solved with the help of DNA evidence.