and
Wednesday 20th - Friday 22nd November 2019
Gate 3, Level 2, Olympic Room, Melbourne Cricket Ground
BALANCING THE COSTS OF PRISONS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
BUILDING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OFFENDING AND UNNECESSARY INCARCERATION
In 2015, Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO) presented the 8th International Criminal Justice Conference – “Do Prisons Change Lives”. Keynote speaker, former Texan Republican Legislator, Jerry Madden delivered a direct message to Australian jurisdictions: “Don’t Build More Prisons, They Cost Too Much”. He stated that American Governments had learnt that mass incarceration policies have both economic and social costs that disadvantage communities rather than keeping them safe.
Fast forward to 2019 – Over the past 5 years, the expansion of prisons in Australia increases year on year.
In the four years to June 2018, Australia’s prison population has increased by 21%, which continues the trend over the previous decade rising 39% from 2006-2016 (ABS, 2018). Statistics show that the increase in prison numbers has not been driven by a rise in crime, nor has it now led to a meaningful reduction in crime. In 2018, Australia is currently ranked 11th out of the 34 OECD countries for imprisonment rates with 167 people in prison per 100,000 residents (Statista, 2018). Why is Australia’s imprisonment rate accelerating compared to other countries, and what are the impacts?
This international conference presented by ACSO, in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology - Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Forensicare will bring together global policy, research and practice contributors to debate the effective use of prison on the principles of deterrence and rehabilitation and explore evidence-based alternatives that address offenders’ needs, reduce incarceration, and increase community safety.
The conference will challenge policymakers to consider:
What are the economic and social costs of increasing incarceration in communities around Australia?
BUILDING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OFFENDING AND UNNECESSARY INCARCERATION
In 2015, Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO) presented the 8th International Criminal Justice Conference – “Do Prisons Change Lives”. Keynote speaker, former Texan Republican Legislator, Jerry Madden delivered a direct message to Australian jurisdictions: “Don’t Build More Prisons, They Cost Too Much”. He stated that American Governments had learnt that mass incarceration policies have both economic and social costs that disadvantage communities rather than keeping them safe.
Fast forward to 2019 – Over the past 5 years, the expansion of prisons in Australia increases year on year.
In the four years to June 2018, Australia’s prison population has increased by 21%, which continues the trend over the previous decade rising 39% from 2006-2016 (ABS, 2018). Statistics show that the increase in prison numbers has not been driven by a rise in crime, nor has it now led to a meaningful reduction in crime. In 2018, Australia is currently ranked 11th out of the 34 OECD countries for imprisonment rates with 167 people in prison per 100,000 residents (Statista, 2018). Why is Australia’s imprisonment rate accelerating compared to other countries, and what are the impacts?
This international conference presented by ACSO, in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology - Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Forensicare will bring together global policy, research and practice contributors to debate the effective use of prison on the principles of deterrence and rehabilitation and explore evidence-based alternatives that address offenders’ needs, reduce incarceration, and increase community safety.
The conference will challenge policymakers to consider:
What are the economic and social costs of increasing incarceration in communities around Australia?
