Statistics just released show that there has been a 7% increase in the community-based corrections rate between the June 2008 quarter and the June 2009 quarter.
While it is preferable, and more cost effective, to keep offenders out of prison, the State Government must ensure that resources are available to supervise offenders and stop them offending again.
However, this task will be difficult. The 7% increase has come at a time when the budget for Corrective Services has been cut.
The challenge for Corrections Minister Lisa Singh is to make sure that community correction orders are enforced in spite of the rise in the community-based corrections rate and the budget cut.
Last year Justice Tennent said that offenders on probation orders often returned to court saying they had resumed offending after being unable to see a probation officer. Justice Tennent said “we make the orders and unfortunately after that the resources get a bit thin on the ground”. The judge also expressed the view that the range of sentencing options available to judges and magistrates was inadequate.
Once again, this calls into question the Minister’s decision to launch yet another review of the corrections system when action is really needed now and when we already have enough evidence from past reviews to start making a difference now.
The Labor Government has had 11 years to make a difference in corrections and it just goes to show that nothing will change unless we change the Government.
Vanessa Goodwin MP Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
