2020-08-31
The ACT Government has today released its latest ‘Reducing Recidivism 2020-2023’ Plan, that will accelerate the ACT’s nation-leading Justice Reinvestment efforts over the next three years.
This work builds on the ACT’s ambitious 'Building Communities, Not Prisons' agenda.
The ACT Government has a clear commitment to reduce recidivism in the ACT by 25 percent by 2025 – a commitment in the Labor-Greens Parliamentary Agreement for the 9th Assembly.
This work will take place across the ACT Government over the course of the next three years. There is no single solution to achieving this ambitious target. It will require the combined effort of a range of government, community and academic agencies across our justice and human services systems to reduce recidivism and improve community safety.
Achieving a 25% reduction in the recidivism rate by 2025 would mean 146 fewer detainees returning to custody, or a reduction from 42.4% to 31.7% of adults released from prison who are re‑sentenced and returned to prison within two years.
Comments attributable to ACT Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury:
“While crime rates have been going down, incarceration numbers are still rising. A growing population, together with more awareness around domestic, family and sexual assault, are part of the story. More effective policing, reduced rates of bail, social issues like unemployment and homelessness, poverty and family trauma, particularly among young offenders, also have an impact.
“There is no single answer to these issues, but the plans seeks to address them through seven central pillars:
- Reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody
- Responding to justice housing needs
- Supporting people with substance abuse disorders in the justice system
- Supporting people living with a mental illness or disability in the justice system
- Supporting detainee reintegration
- Developing community capacity
- Responding to women in the justice system.
”Reducing recidivism means less crime, fewer victims, reduced social and financial costs and a safer and more inclusive community.
“That is why the ACT Government has committed to building communities, not prisons – we want to spend our resources on programs that will have a lasting impact, and not just see people cycling in and out of the prison system, destined to a life of repeat offending.
“This is the first time an Australian jurisdiction has committed to redirecting millions of dollars that would otherwise be spent on expanding prisons to evidence-based programs focused on rehabilitation and reintegration and addressing the root causes of people’s offending.
“Meeting this target will be a challenge— we know we need to think differently about how we respond to crime, and how this can be done in a safe and supportive way for our community. The ACT Government is ready to meet that challenge.”