Alleged domestic violence offenders going through rehab before going to trial

MEN charged with domestic violence offences are being put through rehabilitation programs before they go on trial in a bid to change their abusive behaviour as early as possible.

MEN charged with domestic violence offences are being put through rehabilitation programs before they go on trial in a bid to change their abusive behaviour as early as possible.

In a controversial step, the South Australian Correctional Services Department is now including men who are on remand in courses designed to change their dangerous attitudes towards women and children.

The move was recommended by a taskforce convened by the former Labor Government to investigate options to rehabilitate remandees while “accounting for the legal and ethical constraints that apply” to prisoners who are not yet proven guilty.

Greg Fuller, who is a clinical supervisor with the Department’s rehabilitation branch, said about seven men on remand had so far gone through the Domestic and Family Violence Intervention Program alongside convicted prisoners.

Mr Fuller said the remandees appeared so far to “engage slightly better than sentenced prisoners” and were “more motivated and willing to reflect” on their abusive behaviours.

He added that the partners, ex-partners and any children of men who went through the program were also given support by Women’s Safety Services SA.

Mr Fuller said offering this while the alleged offenders were on remand meant it came “in a much more timely manner than does working with sentenced prisoners, where the treatment and subsequent support can be offered up to five years after the triggering (abuse)”.

The Department will continue to include remandees “in all future prison-based programs in whichever prison they are run”, most commonly Yatala Labour Prison and Port Augusta and Mt Gambier prisons.

In Saturday’s SA Weekend magazine, Mr Fuller further explains how rehabilitation programs are working to change the abusive attitudes and behaviours of hundreds of South Australian men – in prisons or living in the community.

There had been some concerns raised about putting remandees through a course to correct behaviour for which they have not been convicted.

There is also a risk that some offenders may be sentenced to considerable time in jail and may forget what they learn in remand by the time they are released.

However, the new approach is supported by anti-violence campaigner and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, who has said it is a “key time” to change behaviours at a person’s earliest contact with the justice system.

Warren Mundine, who chaired the former Government’s taskforce, argued that prisoners on remand often wait long periods for a trial and are then released on conviction because of time served – which means that “if rehabilitation is limited to convicted offenders, these people miss out altogether”.

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