Greens launch justice reinvestment initiative
Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 5th August 2010, 12:13pm
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Senator Scott Ludlam has launched the Australian Greens ‘Justice Reinvestment’ initiative in Adelaide this morning, as an urgent measure to reduce crime and increase community safety.
“Justice reinvestment is a proven strategy for reducing crime and redirecting funding to wherever it is needed most,” Australian Greens Legal Affairs spokesperson Scott Ludlam said.
First emerging in the United States, the approach targets areas of high offending and invests in community programs, services and a legal safety net. As crime and incarceration rates fall, the money saved from building and expanding prisons is further invested in diversionary strategies and crime prevention.
The model has now been rolled out in ten US States, Canada and the UK. In Australia it has been championed by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
“We propose that the Commonwealth Government, through the Standing Committee of Attorneys General (SCAG), initiate the national rollout of Justice Reinvestment strategies in conjunction with the states and territories. There is no area more deserving of Commonwealth, State and Territory collaboration than access to justice, and addressing skyrocketing rates of Aboriginal incarceration.
“We have moved to implement the unanimous recommendation of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee’s 2009 ‘Access to Justice’ report, which stated: ‘federal, state and territory governments recognise the potential benefits of justice reinvestment, and develop and fund a justice reinvestment pilot program for the criminal justice system.’
“It is time to work together cooperatively, to properly fund access to justice measures,” Senator Ludlam said.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
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