The Justice Reform Initiative welcomes the NSW Government's announcement of $23 million to increase support for bail supervision, intensive case management, and early intervention and diversion of children and young people in regional communities.
While the commitment to community-based solutions is a significant and positive step, the scale of this investment must be kept in perspective: NSW currently spends approximately $223 million annually to imprison children and young people, a figure that dwarfs this new funding package (Note: the announced funding's timeframe is currently unclear).
Quotes attributable to executive director Dr Mindy Sotiri:
"This funding is a welcome sign of the NSW Government recognising that building safer communities requires investing in programs that address the drivers of criminal justice system contact. The evidence is very clear that if children are sent to prison, they are more likely to offend when they are released. The evidence is also very clear that strengthening community-led supports is much more effective than imprisonment when it comes to reducing crime."
"The Police Minister is right – we cannot arrest our way to a safer community. If we keep sending children through the revolving door of the criminal justice system, we fail them, we fail their communities, and we fail taxpayers."
"Too often policy making in this area is driven by politics and posturing about appearing to be tough on crime, rather than by the evidence about what actually works to build safer communities. In NSW there has recently been a troubling move towards this kind of politicised law making, particularly in relation to restrictive bail laws. There is of course now decades of research that shows us that sending children to prison doesn't make us safer — it entrenches disadvantage and drives children deeper into a failing system, so it is really good to see a different approach here by the NSW Government."
"We are heartened by the NSW Government's recognition of what the evidence shows actually works, and particularly by the investment in community-led prevention. Crime prevention should be focused on community-led solutions, including those led by First Nations people. We also commend the Government on its specific commitment to a $5 million Community Safety Investment Fund that will back innovative and potentially scalable local initiatives from community and non-government organisations across NSW."
"The increased funding for intensive bail supervision and support is also welcome. There is strong evidence that providing support for children at the point of bail increases compliance with bail conditions and significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending. It is much more effective to provide programs and supervision in the community than to lock children up."
"We urge the NSW Government to ensure this is the first step in a major, long-term shift of funding away from the $223 million spent annually on youth incarceration, and towards these community-based solutions that offer young people a genuine chance to turn their lives around. Children and young people should be accountable for their actions, but we need to focus on what the evidence says will reduce the risk of harm re-occurring."
The Justice Reform Initiative has recently published a series of position papers on key reform areas including youth justice, as well as reports outlining the success of evidence-based alternatives to prison.
