Post-release support for women prisoners - processes of psychological and social transition. The failure of women prisoners to make a successful transition back to the community is one of the most significant problems of modern penology. Woman to Woman is an innovative mentoring and post-release support program developed by the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Prisoners. The goal of the research is to study how post-release support is delivered within a mentoring relation ....Post-release support for women prisoners - processes of psychological and social transition. The failure of women prisoners to make a successful transition back to the community is one of the most significant problems of modern penology. Woman to Woman is an innovative mentoring and post-release support program developed by the Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Prisoners. The goal of the research is to study how post-release support is delivered within a mentoring relationship. The research uses interviews and surveys to examine the way that women releasees deal with the material, social and personal problems they face in the difficult weeks and months after release. The mentoring relationship is considered from the perspective of both the women releasees and the mentors.Read moreRead less
A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Child-Sex Offender Recidivism. The project has important implications for the prevention, prediction and treatment of sexual offences against children. New prevention strategies may be devised through the identification of individual, interpersonal and situational factors involved in sexual offence onset and recidivism. Better prediction models may be used to inform risk assessments for individuals applying to work with children, sentencing decisions involving ....A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Child-Sex Offender Recidivism. The project has important implications for the prevention, prediction and treatment of sexual offences against children. New prevention strategies may be devised through the identification of individual, interpersonal and situational factors involved in sexual offence onset and recidivism. Better prediction models may be used to inform risk assessments for individuals applying to work with children, sentencing decisions involving child-sex offenders, and decisions about the suitability for release of child-sex offenders from prison. Finally, more effective approaches to treatment may be developed from a better understanding of risk factors involved in recidivism.Read moreRead less
Radicalisation, Counter-Radicalisation, and De-Radicalisation: Developing a New Understanding of Terrorism in the Australian Context. Concentrating on the unique drivers of extremism within Victoria (and Australia), the study will enhance counter terrorism stakeholders' understanding of domestic radicalization. This will assist in designing policies appropriate for Australian circumstances that can: 1. pre-empt, prevent and detect radicalisation without jeopardising social cohesion and 2. reduce ....Radicalisation, Counter-Radicalisation, and De-Radicalisation: Developing a New Understanding of Terrorism in the Australian Context. Concentrating on the unique drivers of extremism within Victoria (and Australia), the study will enhance counter terrorism stakeholders' understanding of domestic radicalization. This will assist in designing policies appropriate for Australian circumstances that can: 1. pre-empt, prevent and detect radicalisation without jeopardising social cohesion and 2. reduce Australia's reliance on overseas counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation models, where practitioners confront different community dynamics. Working towards understanding what causes radicalization in Australia, the project offers to enhance national security and by addressing local circumstances carries the prospect of creating more cost-efficient counter terrorism practices.Read moreRead less
Assessing Readiness for Treatment in Violent Offenders. In recent years criminal justice systems have increasingly identified violent offenders as a key target group for rehabilitation programs and anger management programs have now been widely implemented in most jurisdictions. However, recent research evaluating the outcomes of these anger management programs suggests that only some participants are likely to benefit. The aim of this research is to develop a method of identifying the individua ....Assessing Readiness for Treatment in Violent Offenders. In recent years criminal justice systems have increasingly identified violent offenders as a key target group for rehabilitation programs and anger management programs have now been widely implemented in most jurisdictions. However, recent research evaluating the outcomes of these anger management programs suggests that only some participants are likely to benefit. The aim of this research is to develop a method of identifying the individual characteristics of those who are likely to benefit, so that resources and interventions can be targeted. The research will help to improve the effectiveness of program delivery thereby contributing to the reduction of violent crime.Read moreRead less
Evaluation of Integrated Programs for men who perpetrate domestic violence: an examination of the effectiveness of intervention process and systems. This research will investigate the effectiveness of integrated programs for men who perpetrate domestic violence. The project will address the unpredictable nature of domestic violence by administering behaviour, attitudinal, and risk assessment instruments at each point of intervention and beyond. Central to this process is the collection of data f ....Evaluation of Integrated Programs for men who perpetrate domestic violence: an examination of the effectiveness of intervention process and systems. This research will investigate the effectiveness of integrated programs for men who perpetrate domestic violence. The project will address the unpredictable nature of domestic violence by administering behaviour, attitudinal, and risk assessment instruments at each point of intervention and beyond. Central to this process is the collection of data from women partners and other stakeholders (child protection, police, courts) for the purpose of comparison. The project outcomes will allow for an analysis that gives an overview of changes during and after the intervention process. In this way, integrated programs will be able to better conceptualise and respond to behaviour, attitudinal and risk assessment variations.Read moreRead less
An Evaluation of Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment. A suspended sentence is a fixed term of imprisonment, the execution of which has been suspended in whole or in part. It is widely used in most Australian jurisdictions. A conflict between public and legal perceptions about the severity of this sanction contributes to a lack of public confidence in the criminal justice system and makes abolition or restrictions on the use of suspended sentences a real possibility when governments feel pressure ....An Evaluation of Suspended Sentences of Imprisonment. A suspended sentence is a fixed term of imprisonment, the execution of which has been suspended in whole or in part. It is widely used in most Australian jurisdictions. A conflict between public and legal perceptions about the severity of this sanction contributes to a lack of public confidence in the criminal justice system and makes abolition or restrictions on the use of suspended sentences a real possibility when governments feel pressured to be tough on crime. This project aims to explore the use of the suspended sentence and to evaluate its efficacy as an alternative to imprisonment.
Read moreRead less
Stopping domestic violence in urban and rural areas: evaluating and improving the effectiveness of domestic violence perpetrator programs. Domestic violence affects up to 36% of women (Mouzos et.al 2004). Its annual economic cost is $8.1b (Access Economics 2004). In 66% of cases children are present (Bagshaw et.al 1999). Effects on women and children are poor mental health, homelessness and impaired work/education performance (VicHealth 2004). As male perpetrators tend to be serial offenders (Ha ....Stopping domestic violence in urban and rural areas: evaluating and improving the effectiveness of domestic violence perpetrator programs. Domestic violence affects up to 36% of women (Mouzos et.al 2004). Its annual economic cost is $8.1b (Access Economics 2004). In 66% of cases children are present (Bagshaw et.al 1999). Effects on women and children are poor mental health, homelessness and impaired work/education performance (VicHealth 2004). As male perpetrators tend to be serial offenders (Hansen et al 2004), there are Australian programs to stop the violence. There are limited and contentious findings about their value and no published evaluation of programs in rural Australia. This research addresses these significant knowledge gaps and is nationally beneficial as the knowledge can ultimately reduce domestic violence prevalence.Read moreRead less
Ageing in prison: A strategic framework for the management of ageing offenders in the Australian criminal justice system. The knowledge and strategies offered by this research will contribute to significant improvements in planning of programs and facilities for Australian prisons and prisoner support services. In turn, ageing prisoners will benefit from improved mental and physical health, reduction in homelessness, and reduced recidivism. Improved knowledge of the needs of ageing prisoners wil ....Ageing in prison: A strategic framework for the management of ageing offenders in the Australian criminal justice system. The knowledge and strategies offered by this research will contribute to significant improvements in planning of programs and facilities for Australian prisons and prisoner support services. In turn, ageing prisoners will benefit from improved mental and physical health, reduction in homelessness, and reduced recidivism. Improved knowledge of the needs of ageing prisoners will allow reduced costs, through better planning, less inefficiencies and a decreased burden on community health and welfare systems. The project will also assist government departments to ensure national and international human rights obligations are met.Read moreRead less
Applying Human Rights Legislation In Closed Environments: A Strategic Framework For Managing Compliance. The project will be a principal source of knowledge about the application of human rights in secure settings in Australia. It will improve the delivery and quality of services to people held in closed environments, such as prisons, detention centres, and settings accommodating the aged and persons with disabilities. It will assist both human rights monitoring bodies, and staff and management ....Applying Human Rights Legislation In Closed Environments: A Strategic Framework For Managing Compliance. The project will be a principal source of knowledge about the application of human rights in secure settings in Australia. It will improve the delivery and quality of services to people held in closed environments, such as prisons, detention centres, and settings accommodating the aged and persons with disabilities. It will assist both human rights monitoring bodies, and staff and management of closed settings to implement human rights obligations in everyday operations, and will heighten awareness in the community of the rights of people in these settings.Read moreRead less
A cross-disciplinary investigation of creative arts as intervention activity for young people at risk in urban and rural Victoria. The research project will investigate whether the involvement of "at risk" teenagers in creative arts activities can act as effective diversions from harmful risk taking behaviour. The project will set up, document and analyse creative arts projects in three urban and rural Victorian localities where there is a high proportion of marginalised youth. This research wil ....A cross-disciplinary investigation of creative arts as intervention activity for young people at risk in urban and rural Victoria. The research project will investigate whether the involvement of "at risk" teenagers in creative arts activities can act as effective diversions from harmful risk taking behaviour. The project will set up, document and analyse creative arts projects in three urban and rural Victorian localities where there is a high proportion of marginalised youth. This research will explore how involvement in creative expression results in increased self-esteem, an improved sense of goal setting and achievement together with community commitment. It will provide justice and social agencies with a model for effective youth program planning which will facilitate re-education and work opportunitiesRead moreRead less