2015-09-18
The Victorian Ombudsman’s report into the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners is a wake-up call that the endless ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric of governments is failing both the community and prisoners, Greens spokesperson for Justice and Corrections, Sue Pennicuik, said today.
"The report confirms what many have long been saying – that too much money is being spent on prisons and not enough on preventing crime and reoffending," Ms Pennicuik said.
"The report shows that prisoner numbers are spiralling due largely to unnecessary changes to criminal sentencing, such as the abolition of home detention and suspended sentencing options introduced by the former Coalition government and supported by Labor, which the Greens opposed. We foreshadowed that these changes would lead to an increase in prisoners who need not be punished with incarceration," Ms Pennicuik said.
"Also, changes to the parole and bail and systems, while needed for serious violent offenders, are impacting on all prisoners, so that overall fewer prisoners are getting parole and so are leaving prison without the support and supervision that being on parole involves - 99% of prisoners will eventually be released after their sentence –most with little or no rehabilitation or support – a recipe for repeat offending.
"We raised these issues at the time the legislation was changed," Ms Pennicuik said.
"The report confirms what other studies have shown - that a quarter of prisoners come from just 2 per cent of the state’s postcodes and half from just 6% and that the average prisoner comes from a background of disadvantage, substance abuse, a significant number have mental health issues and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners are still over-represented in custody.
"That successive governments have allowed this situation to continue and worsen, while spruiking ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric is an absolute indictment on them," Ms. Pennicuik said.
"Tough ‘law and order’ policies do not address the factors that contribute to offending or the pressing need for a focus on rehabilitation in prison and on other forms of punishment such as community corrections orders, and reintegration post-release," said Ms Pennicuik.
"It is concerning that in recent years, the female prison population has been rising - many female prisoners are not violent and have backgrounds of physical and sexual abuse, but are not receiving the supports and programs in prison or post prison that they need."
"Prison should be seen as a last resort and only for the more serious offenders,’ said Ms Pennicuik. ‘The Ombudsman confirms that existing alternatives to prison such as diversion programs and Community Corrections Orders are working. These alternatives need more resources as do alternative justice sentencing approaches such the Drug Court, Koori Court, and Neighbourhood Justice Centre. These need to be expanded," Ms Pennicuik said.
"The Ombudsman’s report also suggests adopting a justice reinvestment approach which the Greens have advocated for in our justice policies and with the recent Senate Inquiry which we established on this issue to reduce crime and strengthen disadvantaged communities," Ms Pennicuik said.
"The Greens welcome the Ombudsman’s recommendations which should be fully implemented urgently," said Ms. Pennicuik. "As highlighted by the Ombudsman, we need a whole of government response across the justice system, education, health and housing with a focus on the causes of crime, looking at alternatives to prison where appropriate, and where prison is required for prisoners there should be a greater focus on rehabilitation."