Federal Pre-Budget Submission: National Support for Justice Reinvestment

Justice Reinvestment Network Australia and Change the Record (2019)

This submission outlines the case for investment in justice reinvestment and sets out approximate costs to the Federal Government of implementing and building upon two key recommendations from the Australian Law Reform Commission’s report Pathways to Justice — An Inquiry into the Rates of Incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2017). These recommendations are

1) Establishment of an independent national justice reinvestment (JR) body with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership; and

2) Support for JR sites in each State and Territory.

(open access) via JRNA

Submission to the Australian Labor Party, First Submission

Justice Reinvestment Network Australia (2018)

The policy positions or approaches set out in the submission to the ALRC (see also Recommendation 4-1 of the ALRC report) are supported by members of JRNA (those listed below). These members are pleased to see Labor advocating for advancement of further JR projects in Australia as mechanisms designed to reduce Indigenous over-representation, and for a more formal structure and evaluation processes to support JR work. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss our position on the above and other aspects of JR in Australia with relevant Labor representatives, including at a meeting with Shadow Attorney-General Dreyfus and/or Senator Dodson.

(open access) via JRNA

Submission to the Australian Labor Party, First Submission

Justice Reinvestment Network Australia (2018)

The policy positions or approaches set out in the submission to the ALRC (see also Recommendation 4-1 of the ALRC report) are supported by members of JRNA (those listed below). These members are pleased to see Labor advocating for advancement of further JR projects in Australia as mechanisms designed to reduce Indigenous over-representation, and for a more formal structure and evaluation processes to support JR work. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss our position on the above and other aspects of JR in Australia with relevant Labor representatives, including at a meeting with Shadow Attorney-General Dreyfus and/or Senator Dodson.

(open access) via JRNA

Blue Print for Change

Change the Record (2015)

We need a new approach, which focuses on greater investment in early intervention, prevention and diversion strategies. These are smarter solutions that increase safety, address the root causes of violence against women, cut reoffending and imprisonment rates, and build stronger and safer communities.

To change the record, all levels of government need to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, their organisations and representative bodies to design and invest in holistic, community-led early intervention, prevention and diversion strategies. These are evidence-based solutions that increase safety, address the root causes of violence against women and children, cut reoffending and imprisonment rates, and build stronger communities.

(open access) via Change the Record

Key Proposals #1 – Smarter Sentencing and Parole Law Reform

Just Reinvest NSW (2017)

This policy paper proposes a number of legislative and policy reforms to reduce the rising prison population in NSW, with a particular view to addressing the levels of Aboriginal overrepresentation.

The three proposals in this paper were selected from a broader range of proposals as they are achievable in the short to medium term and their implementation will have an immediate impact on the size of the prison population, thereby freeing up resources for reinvestment. They comprise part of an overall justice reinvestment strategy through which resulting savings would be reinvested into supporting community driven strategies to reduce crime.

(open access) via Just Reinvest NSW

Justice Reinvestment: Youth Action Policy Paper

Youth Action & Policy Association (2013)

Youth Action recommends further research into the Justice Reinvestment model, resulting in the introduction of this model in NSW. NSW’s juvenile justice system so closely corresponds to that of other jurisdictions where Justice Reinvesment have effectively implemented this model, therefore Youth Action believes it would be equally effective in a NSW context. We recommend taking the steps outlined throughout this paper and in the Noetic Report in order to achieve a better return on investment for juvenile justice, and more positive outcomes for young people and their communities, especially those who are of Aboriginal descent or groups that are vulnerable due to the current system.

(open access) via YouthLaw