Smarter Justice for Safer Communities report finds Territorians want new crime strategies

The tide has shifted against the ‘lock ‘em up mentality’, with 70 per cent of Territorians backing a new approach to the ongoing crime crisis, according to new research.

Years of ‘tough on crime’ approaches have failed the Territory, and residents are now calling for new solutions to the ongoing crisis, according to a new report.

A Smarter Justice for Safer Communities report found that 70 per cent of Territorians would support policies that try to break the cycle of offending, rather than simply extending prison sentences and adding more police.

The new research, launched as part of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Agreement, interviewed 300 Territorians about their perspective on crime.

Only 6 per cent of respondents agreed that the current system was working, while 13 per cent believed prison was the best way to reduce and prevent crime.

The majority said they were disillusioned with ‘tough on crime’, ‘lock ‘em up mentality’, and called for different solutions.

The survey found 70 per cent of the respondents thought the current strategy was not improving outcomes for Aboriginal people, and 67 per cent wanted more alternatives to prison.

As one of the largest piece of comprehensive audience research on justice reform in the NT, the report found community attitudes were shifting towards evidence-based policies.

It comes days after the Corrections department confirmed it had broken its all-time record for the prison population.

The Smarter Justice report said the Territory already had one of the highest imprisonment rates in the world, with more prisoners per population than the United States, El Salvador, Rwanda and Turkmenistan.

On any given day around one per cent of the Territory’s adult population is in prison, with the incarceration rate is 4.5 times higher than the Australian rate.

Territory children were five time more likely to be locked up than the average Australian kid.

And the policies are disproportionately impacting one group of Territorians in particular, with 85 per cent of the Territory prison population Aboriginal.

The research highlighted how Territorians, particularly children, became “trapped in the maze of the justice system”.

It said the current method was not sufficiently tackling reoffending rates, with 59 per cent of sentenced prisoners returning to jail within two years of their release.

The report suggested addressing short-term needs, like safe housing, food and transport, followed up by help for substance abuse or mental health could address the root causes of reoffending.

NTAJA governance committee co-chair Olga Havnen said the public was “disillusioned” with crime policies, and were demanding a new approach.

NTAJA governance committee co-chair Olga Havnen said the public was “disillusioned” with crime policies, and were demanding a new approach. Picture: Keri Megelus

“The Northern Territory is the only jurisdiction in this country where crime is actually rising,

confirming that so-called ‘tough-on-crime’ approaches to justice have done nothing to break

the cycle of offending or reduce the prevalence of crime in our communities,” Ms Havnen said.

“(We) are ready to embrace alternative and valid justice approaches that are proven to work and can be readily scaled up in Territory communities.”

Ms Havnen said the solutions were out there — from early intervention, drug and alcohol treatment, and mental health programs — and were being developed from Groote Eylandt to Darwin, to Alice Springs.

“Diversion, rehabilitation, and reintegration strategies that are culturally appropriate and community-based work by disrupting the cycle of offending and avoiding future contact with the criminal justice system,” she said.

“The NT community has signalled it is ready for change.”

The report said these solutions would also be cheaper than the $150m per year prison price tag currently being paid by Territorians.

The total cost of prisons has doubled over the past decade, with each prisoner costing taxpayers $230 a day.

A Deloitte Access Economics report found that running drug and alcohol treatment programs for Aboriginal people in the community — rather than behind bars — saved $111,458 per offender.

While an Australian Institute of Criminology report found community supervision resulted in fewer victims of crimes, and impacts of family dislocation at less cost to the taxpayer.

“The current system does not keep Territorians safe, provide value for money to the taxpayer, or reduce harm to Aboriginal communities,” the Smarter Justice report concluded.

Originally published as Smarter Justice for Safer Communities report finds Territorians want new crime strategies