Justice Reform Initiative Media Release, 3 September 2024
The ACT Government’s new Justice Reinvestment Strategy signals a welcome step forward in critical efforts to reduce recidivism in the ACT – and should provide a blueprint on breaking cycles of incarceration for all Australian governments.
Justice Reform Initiative executive director Dr Mindy Sotiri welcomed the plan, released on Tuesday, which includes a new ‘Justice Futures’ justice reinvestment fund to be developed through co-design with community, stakeholders and lived experience advocates to develop the programs that will help to address root causes of crime.
“The Justice Reform Initiative has been calling for a Breaking the Cycle Fund for several years, and we are pleased to see that the ACT Government, through the Justice Futures Fund, is committing to working closely with the community to develop much needed programs to support people to break the cycle of incarceration,” Dr Sotiri said.
The ACT has the lowest incarceration rate in Australia, but the highest rate of people returning to prison, with 80% of all people in prison having been there before. Last year the total net operating and capital cost of adult and children’s imprisonment in Canberra was more than $120 million.
“Through this strategy’s focus on early intervention and prevention as well as diversionary activities as a cost-saving measure, the ACT Government recognises the enormous financial and social cost imprisonment has on the community when it is used as a default response to crime and disadvantage,” Dr Sotiri said,
“All the evidence shows that the solutions to reducing crime are not found inside prison but are in the community. It is this kind of real investment and collaboration at the grassroots level with individuals, families and communities that works to prevent crime and reduce reoffending by addressing the drivers of crime. This is where all Australian governments should take note and re-focus their efforts.”
Dr Sotiri said the Justice Reinvestment Strategy showed leadership by identifying key priority groups, such as First Nations people – who account for over one-quarter of the ACT prison population – women, young people and people living with cognitive and mental health impairments.
“By targeting and tailoring supports for priority groups of people, who are often experiencing complex disadvantage, the ACT can deliver a more effective system that can reduce crime and promote community safety while providing opportunity to turn lives around,” Dr Sotiri said.
“The ACT Government could go further by committing to future funding beyond the current 1-to-2-year timeframes to provide certainty to community organisations, which we rely on to deliver these vital programs and services and meet rising demand.”
“It is particularly important to see the inclusion of data and outcome monitoring projects, which will be hugely helpful in the longer-term, to help all Australian governments understand the key programs and activities that really work.”
The Justice Reform Initiative has recently published a series of discussion papers on key reform areas including bail, as well as reports outlining the success of evidence-based alternatives to prison.
Media contact: Pia Akerman 0412 346 746
The Initiative respectfully acknowledges and supports the current and longstanding efforts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to reduce the numbers of Indigenous people incarcerated in Australia and, importantly, the leadership role which Indigenous-led organisations continue to play on this issue. We also acknowledge the work of many other individuals and organisations seeking change, such as those focused on the rate of imprisonment for women, people with mental health issues, people with disability and others.