The authors of this report argue that if Australian governments reformed sentencing so that non-violent low-risk offenders were not detained at taxpayer expense, but rather were put to work in industries which urgently need workers, this could deliver substantial benefits to taxpayers without compromising community...

This study uses data from two state-wide surveys conducted in New South Wales prisons and youth justice centres in 2015 to examine the epidemiology of intergenerational incarceration.

In 2021–22, there were 106 deaths in custody: 84 in prison custody and 22 in police custody or custody-related operations. In total, there were 24 Indigenous deaths and 81 non-Indigenous deaths in custody and one death of a person whose Indigenous status was unknown. This...

This report presents a select literature review on yarning circles within the justice system, to provide insight into the unique cultural elements of yarning practices and inform how yarning circles can best operate in ACT justice system.

Children affected by parental incarceration are the invisible victims of crime. This report highlights the experiences of children and adults who have had parents in prison, and contains insights from parents who spoke to the Committee from prison.

This inquiry was established to look into the possible impact on children of imprisoned parents in NSW, and the adequacy of policies and services to assist them. In particular, it examined what services are available, how effective they are, and whether improvements could be made.

Established in 1999 by the Australian government, the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program collects drug use and criminal justice information from police detainees at watch houses and police stations across Australia. This publication reports on data for 2021.

This publication provides an evidence-based literature review on best practices pertaining to models of care in the four areas, which broadly represent the main sectors of Forensic Mental Health Service delivery (inpatient, community, prisons, and courts).

The National Deaths in Custody Program has monitored the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison, police custody and youth detention in Australia since 1980. In 2020–21 there were 82 deaths in custody: 66 in prison custody and 16 in police custody or custody-related...

This report shines a light on harmful practices in women’s prisons in New Zealand. It finds that while there have been some encouraging policy developments in recent years, deep challenges still remain.

Women in prison in New Zealand share common experiences with imprisoned women around the world. This report explores the lived experience of women in New Zealand prisons.

The National Deaths in Custody Program has monitored the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison, police custody and youth detention in Australia since 1980. In 2019-20 there were 113 deaths in custody. This report contains detailed information on these deaths and compares the...

This research examines policies and programs relevant to the housing pathways of ex-prisoners with complex support needs in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, including what benefits result from current housing assistance settings.

The Drug Use Monitoring in Australia program involves the routine collection of survey and urinalysis data from police detainees across Australia. This publication reports on data for 2020.

IBAC performs an important role in exposing, investigating and preventing corruption across the public sector, including the corrections sector. This report focuses on four investigations – Operations Rous, Caparra, Nisidia and Molara – outlining the corruption issues involved, factors that may contribute to these issues...

This paper examines the recent downward trend of young Aboriginal people being imprisoned in New South Wales.

This report contains detailed information on the 113 deaths in custody in 2018–19 (89 in prison custody and 24 in police custody or custody-related operations), and compares these findings to longer-term trends.

This report represents the culmination of six months’ work by the Prisoner Mental Health Care Taskforce. It outlines the Taskforce’s observations and findings on the delivery of mental health care to prisoners and detainees in Tasmania.

This thematic inspection provides insight into the current treatment of, and conditions experienced by, older prisoners. It provides the Department of Corrections with an early warning of the risks and challenges associated with managing older prisoners.

This paper compares two cases of long-term detention on the basis of claimed risks to public safety in New Zealand, a common law jurisdiction. It considers whether either of the men or both are reliably or adequately shown to be dangerous, given difficulties in risk...

Older prisoners in Australia are a growing part of Australia’s prison population. Since 2009, those aged 45 and over increased by 79%. This report explores the social, economic and lifestyle factors that could impact on older people’s health in prison.

The purpose of this paper is to report the observations of the Strong Culture, Strong Families program run for Aboriginal male detainees and their families in the Alexander Maconachie Centre, which is a prison and remand centre in the Australian Capital Territory.

This audit examines if Corrections Victoria and GEO Group have developed best practice prisoner management at Ravenhall to rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism. It also assesses if there are effective performance and evaluation frameworks in place to measure these outcomes.

This report examines the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison and police custody and custody-related operations in 2017–18, and compares these findings to long-term trends.

The findings of this report, in combination with an extensive body of literature, illustrate that addressing reoffending and reimprisonment requires a coordinated whole-of-government approach across justice, community and welfare services, housing and health.