Faculty of Arts Hannah Graham Associate Lecturer in Criminology & Sociology, and current PhD candidate School of Sociology & Social Work, UTAS Contact Hannah Graham PhD Candidate Associate Lecturer, Criminology School of Sociology & Social Work, University of Tasmania studying/criminology Prisons and Punishment: Inequalities, Issues and Innovations

Faculty of Arts Hannah Graham Associate Lecturer in Criminology & Sociology, and current PhD candidate School of Sociology & Social Work, UTAS Contact Issues of criminal justice and social justice are linked. There are inequalities in who gets punished and sent to prison. Punishment is more effective in the community than in prison. However, prisons can be used for constructive purposes. Prisons and Punishment: Inequalities, Issues and Innovations

In Australia in recent years, crime rates have been going down (including violent and property crimes), yet prison populations have largely stayed the same or, in some cases, have been going up. There are approximately 28,700 people in prison in Australia. 50,000 people are released from prison each year in Australia. Tasmania has approximately prisoners on any given day, with approximately only about of prisoners being women. References: Australian Institute of Criminology (2012); Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (2011) Setting the Scene Quick Stats and Facts

Cost per Tasmanian Prison Service inmate per day $ Cost per Community Corrections offender per day $10.45 Source = Chapter 8, Report on Government Services (2012) Costs include total net operating expenditure and capital costs. Community Corrections includes the supervision of people on probation orders, parole orders and community service orders. See Community Corrections Tasmania’s website for more details. There are economic reasons why we should reduce the use of incarceration.

Prisoners returning to: TasmaniaAustralia Prison 36.4 %39.3 % Any corrections 44.4 %44.6% Community Corrections offenders returning to:TasmaniaAustralia Community Corrections 14.1 %17.8 % Any corrections 20.1 %27.8 % There are practical and community safety reasons why we should use prisons less

There are social justice and humanitarian reasons why we should use prisons less… Who gets punished at higher rates? Young people under the age of 30 years old People with low literacy and poor educational achievement People on low incomes and unemployed people People who are homeless or have issues accessing stable housing People from neighbourhoods with concentrated disadvantage People with difficult family histories, unstable home environments People with histories of alcohol and other drug use Indigenous people are over-represented People with a mental illness, acquired brain injuries or low IQ References: White & Graham (2010); Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (2011)

‘The rich get richer and the poor get prison’ ~ Jeffrey Reiman (2007)

Who gets locked up at higher rates? The homeless, mentally ill, disabled Type of DataHave current medical problem Have any disability/ impairment Homeless in year before arrest? YES NO 51.2% 43.0% 48.9% 34.8% Employed in month before offence? YES NO 43.8% 34.9% 39.2% Used drugs in month before offence? YES NO 42.9% 45.2% 37.2% 34.8% Reference: White & Graham (2010)

Who gets locked up at higher rates? People with poor literacy & education Type of DataEngland & Wales United States New Zealand No Educational Qualification 46% Males 45% Females 40% Males 42% Females 52% Males 46% Females Table: Percentages of ‘No Educational Qualification’ amongst Prisoners by Gender and Country In Western Australia, between 78-95% of prisoners (depending on facility) had an educational level of less than Year 10 (Henson, 2000). Reference: White & Graham (2010)

Who gets locked up at higher rates? Indigenous people Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners comprised just over a quarter (7,584) of the total prisoner population in Australia. Indigenous imprisonment rates have jumped by 52% in the past decade alone. Indigenous juveniles are 28 times more likely to be incarcerated compared to non-Indigenous juveniles. References: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010); Willis & Moore (2008)

Faculty of Arts Hannah Graham Associate Lecturer in Criminology & Sociology, and current PhD candidate School of Sociology & Social Work, UTAS Contact People are sent to prison as punishment, not for punishment. Prisons should be used sparingly, and as a last resort. Good things can be achieved behind closed doors, Tasmania has several innovative initiatives that are helping people to change. Prisons and Punishment: Inequalities, Issues and Innovations

Key References Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010) Prisoners in Australia 2009 Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra, ACT. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011) Prisoners in Australia 2010 Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra, ACT. Australian Institute of Criminology (2012) Australian Crime Facts and Figures 2011 Australian Institute of Criminology: Canberra. Full text available online at Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (2011) The Health of Australia’s Prisoners 2010 Australian Institute of Health & Welfare: Canberra, ACT. Community Corrections Tasmania Discovering Desistance blogs.iriss.org.uk/discoveringdesistance/blogs.iriss.org.uk/discoveringdesistance/ Reiman, J. (2007) The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison: Ideology, Class and Criminal Justice (8 th e.) Allyn & Bacon: US. Report on Government Services (2012) Chapter 8 ‘Corrective Services’, Productivity Commission. Available online at government-services-2012-chapter8.pdf government-services-2012-chapter8.pdf Tasmanian Reintegration Resources White, R., & Graham, H. (2010) Working with Offenders: A Guide to Concepts and Practices Willan/Routledge: London. Willis, M., & Moore, J. (2008) Reintegration of Indigenous Prisoners [Research & Public Policy Series 90] Australian Institute of Criminology: Canberra, ACT.