Recent research confirms what many of us working in the criminal justice system know to be true: women exiting prison are far more likely to return when housing issues and substance abuse are not adequately addressed. LACW commends programs that support women in prison and on release but our challenge to government is to fund those services for women BEFORE they hit the fast track to a custodial sentence and ongoing entrenchment in the criminal justice system.
We’re backing Smart Justice and their call for a commitment to Justice Reinvestment to head off further increases in Victoria’s prisoner numbers.