Criminal Justice Reform

We all want to feel safe and be treated with dignity. This becomes particularly important when interacting with police officers, both, as a victim of crime or an alleged perpetrator. Therefore, we must always consider mechanisms for improving police accountability.

The new bail laws create the risk of injustice, particularly for low-level, repeat offenders. There needs to be a renewed emphasis on tackling the underlying causes of criminal offending and a clear recognition that many offenders are affected by such things as mental health disorders, unemployment, lack of education and homelessness.

Rather than locking up people charged with low-level offences minor and non-violent offences, the Victorian government should be funding programs that address the drivers of criminal offending.

In Victoria, the police decide what to disclose in a criminal record check. These checks go to employers, housing providers and insurance companies. With a conviction, these checks can be a roadblock to accessing all manner of life’s necessities.

Though diversion programs are theoretically available to all Victorians facing their first minor criminal charge, a key barrier to being accepted into diversion is the requirement that the prosecution consent.

Each year, approximately 6, 000 people are released from prison in Victoria. Most of them are not equipped to deal with life upon release. They often have severe mental and physical health issues, poor employment prospects and, far too frequently, no form of secure accommodation.

Many of RAP’s recommendations made it into the Victorian Ombudsman’s report of the investigation into the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners.

We know that racial profiling has detrimental effects on individuals and communities impacted. We also know that policing should be based on evidence and reasonable suspicion — profiling based on race isn’t just unlawful discrimination, it’s bad policing.