ID :
176481
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 14:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/176481
The shortlink copeid
Large number of Vic parolees re-offend
Victoria's senior police command has urged the Victorian government to address the high rate of parolees re-offending in the state compared with other parts of Australia.
Of the some 3500 people on parole in the Victorian, the re-offending rate is about 10 per cent.
Victoria Police Deputy Chief Commissioner Sir Ken Jones says that rate is high compared with other jurisdictions and the issue needs addressing.
"This is an issue for the Parole Board and for the government to consider. But the fact is: recidivism is a real issue for us," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Sir Ken is investigating why, despite being aware of the problem, Victoria Police and Corrections Victoria had been slow to make parole information available on the police computer database.
On Tuesday, it was revealed seven criminals who had breached parole orders committed murders while out of jail.
But the murderers were not identified as parole violators because of a failing in the Victoria Police LEAP computer system.
The then Labor government announced it would convert the LEAP database to a new system called LINK, but the overhaul has been suspended.
Sir Ken said an announcement about the future of LINK would be made on Wednesday.
He admitted it took too long for computer system problems regarding parolees to be fixed.
"I'm not here to make excuses," he said.
"The fact is something went wrong. I'm not sure exactly what. I am now looking into that on behalf of the chief (commissioner Simon Overland) but the fact is we should have moved a lot quicker."
Premier Ted Baillieu criticised Victoria Police and Corrections Victoria for failing to communicate.
"Like most Victorians, I am shocked that basic information like this has not been available to Victoria Police," he told reporters.
"Victoria Police should have available to them all the information about parolees.
"The bottom line is this problem has to be fixed."
Peter Norden, who was the senior chaplain at Pentridge Prison for seven years and is now a vice chancellor's fellow at the Melbourne Law School, said parolees needed more support upon their release.
He said the key to driving down recidivism rates was investing in programs to help young people in disadvantaged areas stay at school and to provide support programs for prisoners after they leave jail.
"The isolation and the period that they spend inside impacts on their capacity to cope outside," he said.
He suggested the government could divert money from other projects, such as its promised protective services officers (PSOs) scheme.
The state government has committed to spending about $180 million to fund two armed guards at every Melbourne train station and major regional centres from 6pm until the last service.
"If you diverted some of that (money) to earlier intervention for 13-, 14-, 15-year-olds - help them stay at school instead of dropping out and starting their path - that would be the way," Mr Norden said.
He founded the Brosnan Centre, which helps young offenders upon release from prison.
Comment was being sought from state Attorney-General Robert Clark.
Of the some 3500 people on parole in the Victorian, the re-offending rate is about 10 per cent.
Victoria Police Deputy Chief Commissioner Sir Ken Jones says that rate is high compared with other jurisdictions and the issue needs addressing.
"This is an issue for the Parole Board and for the government to consider. But the fact is: recidivism is a real issue for us," he told reporters on Tuesday.
Sir Ken is investigating why, despite being aware of the problem, Victoria Police and Corrections Victoria had been slow to make parole information available on the police computer database.
On Tuesday, it was revealed seven criminals who had breached parole orders committed murders while out of jail.
But the murderers were not identified as parole violators because of a failing in the Victoria Police LEAP computer system.
The then Labor government announced it would convert the LEAP database to a new system called LINK, but the overhaul has been suspended.
Sir Ken said an announcement about the future of LINK would be made on Wednesday.
He admitted it took too long for computer system problems regarding parolees to be fixed.
"I'm not here to make excuses," he said.
"The fact is something went wrong. I'm not sure exactly what. I am now looking into that on behalf of the chief (commissioner Simon Overland) but the fact is we should have moved a lot quicker."
Premier Ted Baillieu criticised Victoria Police and Corrections Victoria for failing to communicate.
"Like most Victorians, I am shocked that basic information like this has not been available to Victoria Police," he told reporters.
"Victoria Police should have available to them all the information about parolees.
"The bottom line is this problem has to be fixed."
Peter Norden, who was the senior chaplain at Pentridge Prison for seven years and is now a vice chancellor's fellow at the Melbourne Law School, said parolees needed more support upon their release.
He said the key to driving down recidivism rates was investing in programs to help young people in disadvantaged areas stay at school and to provide support programs for prisoners after they leave jail.
"The isolation and the period that they spend inside impacts on their capacity to cope outside," he said.
He suggested the government could divert money from other projects, such as its promised protective services officers (PSOs) scheme.
The state government has committed to spending about $180 million to fund two armed guards at every Melbourne train station and major regional centres from 6pm until the last service.
"If you diverted some of that (money) to earlier intervention for 13-, 14-, 15-year-olds - help them stay at school instead of dropping out and starting their path - that would be the way," Mr Norden said.
He founded the Brosnan Centre, which helps young offenders upon release from prison.
Comment was being sought from state Attorney-General Robert Clark.
