Justice Reform Initiative Media Release, 2 September 2024
The Tasmanian Government’s decision to drop a Northern prison is a sensible one which should act as a beacon for all Australian governments.
Justice Reform Initiative executive director Dr Mindy Sotiri said the government had made the right call by recognising a new prison was not an effective use of taxpayer funds and instead investing in expanding reintegration programs and improving existing facilities.
“It is never too late to make a good decision, and we’re glad to see the Tasmanian government pull the pin on a Northern prison before it was too late,” she said.
“This is the right decision because it recognises prisons come at enormous financial and social cost to the community.
“We can’t think about building new prisons like hospitals, schools or other important infrastructure projects that contribute to the well-being of the whole community. All of the research shows that not only are prisons expensive to build and run, they cause harm, they entrench disadvantage, and they fail to deter or address the drivers of crime.
“The Northern Correctional Facility would have cost more than $270 million to build, but far more in operating costs and ongoing social costs by reinforcing the cycle of reincarceration.
“We call on other jurisdictions to take note of this decision and rethink their position on building new prisons.
“The evidence is overwhelmingly clear - the solutions to reducing crime are not found inside prison, but are in the community. It takes real investment and hard work at the grassroots level with individuals, families and communities to address the drivers of crime, and that is where governments should focus their efforts.”
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.