The Prison System

[Culprit]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/half-young-offenders-in-victoria-returning-to-jail-within-two-years-new-report-20150917-gjommz.html

The latest report is pretty scaving on the system. My view is this is just another example when Privatisation fails. It's in the Private Operator's interest to have people reoffend as that is how they make their money. If the Prisoner was rehabilitated and released and then did not commit any crimes once released then the Private Prison Operators would go broke. In saying that we do have Prisoners that should never be released.

[think positive]

Shoot them. Fertiliser. Cannon fodder?

[Culprit]

[David]

Great article, Culprit, thanks. This in particular is worth highlighting:

[Culprit]

Spot on David, the Pollies use the "tough on crime" rhetoric to get votes. They will spend money on a plaque or statue to recognise the achievements of certain individuals, but to spend money on areas that they really don't give a sh*t about is abhorrent in their thinking. Jail for many cases should be the last option.

[Mugwump]

[David]

I take a more complex view of disadvantage than the typical socioeconomic measurements. The fact that the inhabitants of a run-down village in sub-Saharan Africa can be happier than a millionaire with a country estate should suggest to us that pure wealth is not the only measurement of whether you've been given a good deal in life. So, I agree that the causes of dysfunction you list need to be at least addressed (and, ideally, balanced out somehow). But in the meantime, the statistics don't lie: we need to be pouring even more funding into reducing socioeconomic disadvantage and treating mental illness, because those are clearly major causal factors in deciding who ends up in prison.

China is a slightly different issue. I don't think anyone would deny that crime rates (at least, non-white collar crimes) drop in highly authoritarian societies. But the question is whether we would want to give up basic civil liberties, due process, judicious sentencing, free expression and so on in order to achieve that. Thankfully, I think most of us prefer not to go down that path.

[Mugwump]

^ you can probably imagine that i would not advocate the Chinese justice system ; the point is simply that culture and institutions matter, in my view, more than levels of government spending. I suspect that Australia's mentally ill and undereducated end up in jail because they take their behavioural cues from our rather fractured society. You can of course spend more on mental health, and on refugees, and on education, and on domestic violence, environment, and on Aboriginal welfare, and on medicare, etc ad infinitum. They are all good causes. But the cause (funding) and effect (amelioration) is certainly not straightforward.

[think positive]

a step in the right direction?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-09/victorian-prisoners-to-be-tested-for-literacy-and-numeracy/6923000

"Victoria's prison education system is set to undergo a major shake-up, with every inmate to sit academic tests.

The Victorian Government said only 40 per cent of prisoners have the sufficient literacy and numeracy skills they needed to be able to cope independently in the workforce.

Corrections Minister Wade Noonan said it was about giving prisoners better prospects for the future.

"I think that prisoners face many obstacles when they transition back in to the community," he said.

"But it's very clear that if they can gain a job or perhaps entering into further training, that can be the key for many to move away from a life of crime."

[David]

Yep, sounds like a good move. I'm not always crazy about Labor, but they have a good track record on these issues.

[stui magpie]

Boosting literacy and numeracy for those who struggle can only be a good thing. I'd be happy to extend that to teaching trade skills, maybe at Pre-app or cert 3 level for those for whom it could benefit.