NCJ Number
204134
Date Published
July 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper examines various issues related to post-release services for former inmates in Australia, drawing on both international literature and a roundtable discussion sponsored by the Australian Institute of Criminology in October 2002.
Abstract
The majority of Australian prisoners will return to the community. Of the more than 18,000 sentenced prisoners in custody on June 30, 2002, only about 4 percent were serving "life" sentences. The post-release management of Australian offenders varies with jurisdiction; however, in general, offenders can be released on license or parole, on intensive supervision orders, or on temporary release orders. The responsibility for the management of these offenders typically belongs to community correctional staff. Offenders can also be released unconditionally into the community. Post-release services or supervision are not provided to this group of offenders, although private organizations can provide welfare and other services. Obstacles for ex-inmates in their efforts to successfully integrate into responsible living in the community are poverty, lack of education, unemployment, and poor physical health, accompanied by alcohol and drug abuse and mental health needs. Without sufficient material and social support upon release, the cycle of release and rearrest can be difficult to break, particularly for ex-inmates not subject to any formal post-release supervision. There is increasing recognition that all interventions, regardless of content, are best delivered as part of an integrated program designed to address the specific needs and issues of each individual. Promising trends in the promotion of ex-inmate integration into the community were noted in the roundtable discussion. These include support for diversion and noncustodial sanctions; recognition of the lack of services available for those sentenced to a short term in prison or being held on remand; learning from and involvement of ex-inmates in prerelease and post-release work and programs; recognition that intervention may be best delivered when staff have experience and knowledge of both bureaucratic requirements and social approaches to care; and the tailoring of post-release services to the gains made in in-prison treatment and educational programs. This paper presents a model of post-release service delivery developed at the roundtable. 24 references