Corrections Department to trial rehabilitation for inmates on remand in bid to change abusive behaviours

MEN held on remand for alleged domestic violence offences will take part in a pilot program aimed at changing abusive behaviour as early as possible, even though they haven’t been found guilty.

MEN yet to be convicted of domestic violence offences will take part in a pilot program aimed at changing abusive behaviour as early as possible.

In a controversial step, the South Australian Corrections Department will put groups of men who are on remand through a rehabilitation program designed for sentenced criminals.

The idea has the support of anti-violence campaigner and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, who says it is a “key time” to change behaviours at a person’s earliest contact with the justice system.

However, others hold concerns that remandees are yet to be proved guilty of a crime and question whether they should be made to undertake such a program.

The move follows the recommendation of a taskforce - convened by Corrections Minister Peter Malinauskas - that the government investigate rehabilitation options for remandees while “accounting for the legal and ethical constraints that apply” to prisoners not yet convicted.

Corrections Department offender rehabilitation services director Henry Pharo has confirmed that groups of eight to 12 men will take part in a modified version of the existing Domestic and Family Violence Intervention Program, attending three to four sessions per week over six to seven weeks.

Authorities will then evaluate how this does or does not change behaviour.

The pilot program is expected to start before the end of this financial year and run over several years.

“We try to change the way they think about their own actions, the way they respond to situations and teach some strategies for dealing with that,” Mr Pharo said.

“It's the beginning stages of motivating and teaching someone how to change their behaviour.”

Mr Pharo said that for some remandees “their point of arrest is a real low point” and can be a catalyst for change.

However, he noted there was a risk that some may be sentenced to a considerable time in jail and may forget what they learned in remand by the time they are released.

Warren Mundine, who chaired the taskforce, argued that prisoners on remand often wait long periods for a trial and will then be released on conviction because of time served.

“If rehabilitation is limited to convicted offenders, these people miss out altogether,” he said.

Opposition corrections spokesman Stephan Knoll said the trial “sounds good in principle” but warned that the government was already “failing to provide mandatory (rehabilitation) programs to existing sentenced prisoners”.

“Unless the dangerous overcrowding and lack of resources that exists (in SA prisons) is dealt with, we are putting community safety at risk,” he said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, phone 1800 RESPECT.