Training restaurants housed inside prison walls and staffed by inmates are reducing recidivism rates and winning praise from diners overseas. Should we try them in New Zealand?
The UK imprisons more people than any other country in Western Europe per head of population.
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The majority of women in prison have committed minor, non-violent crimes. But a large number have committed violent offences such as assault, homicide and robbery.
Denying prisoners internet access seriously damages their prospects of rehabilitation.
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Mirko Bagaric, Swinburne University of Technology and Dan Hunter, Swinburne University of Technology
If we are serious about rehabilitating prisoners and reducing reoffending, then education and integration back into the community are vital. Today, internet access is essential to achieve that.
Victoria is failing in relation to rehabilitation of prisoners and post-release support. The consequence is that more people are imprisoned, more often.
A NSW programme in which prisoners train stray dogs as part of their rehabilitation is one of a number of innovations adopted in recent years.
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Approaches to crime that rely on punitive methods have proved to be ineffective and counter-productive. Rehabilitation programmes not only prevent crime, but are cost-effective and practical.
Prisoners are released every day, but we don’t know how many. The lack of basic data is an obstacle to effective services that would minimise their risk of re-offending.
AAP/Dean Lewins/Image digitally altered
We simply don't know how many prisoners are released each year, nor their demographic characteristics. As a result, we cannot tailor services that would reduce ex-prisoners' risks of re-offending.
Rising imprisonment rates are the result of political responses to media and public agitation for tougher sentences.
AAP/David Crosling
Some claim rising crime rates justify jailing more people, others that such policies cut crime. Evidence from around the world shows those claims are wrong and that we should be looking at inequality.