COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IN AUSTRALIA - THE ATTENDANCE CENTRE SCHEME

• NCJ Number: 50864
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 42 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 50-54
• Author(s): T A REIMAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, ENABLING LEGISLATION, PROGRAM COMPONENTS, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE ATTENDENCE CENTRE PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF VICTORIA ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATTENDANCE CENTRE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM SHORTLY AFTER WORLD WAR II AND MORE RECENT PROGRAM INTRODUCTIONS SUCH AS PERIODIC DETENTION CENTRES IN NEW ZEALAND ARE VIEWED AS PROVIDING THE GENERAL CONCEPT THAT LED TO THE ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE ATTENDANCE CENTRES IN THE STATE OF VICTORIA IN AUSTRALIA. SOME OF THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THIS LEGISLATION ARE OUTLINED. THE ATTENDANCE CENTRE FUNCTIONS AS A SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE FOR THOSE OFFENDERS WHO PREVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTITUTIONALIZED. THESE ARE OFFENDERS WHO WOULD MORE APPROPRIATELY BE DEALT WITH BY PROBATION, GOOD BEHAVIOR BONDS, OR OTHER ESTABLISHED ALTERNATIVES. THE PROGRAM OF THE CENTRE IS COMPOSED BASICALLY OF A COMMUNITY WORK COMPONENT AND A SOCIAL COUNSELING COMPONENT. THE WORK IS GEARED TOWARD ASSISTING WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS AND CITIZENS IN ACCOMPLISHING WORK THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE AID OF CENTRE CLIENTS. IT IS INTENDED TO GIVE THE OFFENDER A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND COMMUNITY USEFULNESS AS WELL AS SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. SOCIAL COUNSELING AIMS AT IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF CLIENTS AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. THE PROGRAM IS NONRESIDENTIAL, WITH CLIENTS CONTINUING TO WORK REGULAR JOBS AND FULFILLING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS PART OF THEIR FAMILY UNITS. LEISURE TIME TO A MAXIMUM OF 18 HOURS A WEEK IS SPENT AT THE CENTRE FOR THE LENGTH OF A GIVEN SENTENCE, USUALLY FROM 1 TO 12 MONTHS. IN DETERMINING THE SUITABILITY OF AN OFFENDER FOR ADMITTANCE, THE COURT AS WELL AS THE STAFF OF SPECIFIED CENTRES WILL LOOK AT SPECIFIC SOCIAL FACTORS THAT CHARACTERIZE THE OFFENDER. THESE CRITERIA ARE PRESENTED. OF THE 174 OFFENDERS WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE PROGRAM, 10 PERCENT HAVE REOFFENDED EITHER DURING OR AFTER CONCLUSION OF THEIR PROGRAMS. IN ALL OTHER CASES, SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN TERMS OF PERSONAL MATURITY AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. (RCB)