NCJ Number
191477
Date Published
December 2000
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of significant events in Victorian prisons (Australia) over the past 10 years that have shaped the management of prisons in the delivery of rehabilitation and harm-minimization strategies.
Abstract
Victorian prisons have witnessed significant changes over the past decade: from 1988 when there were a multitude of inquiries into prisoner incidents, deaths, and corruption, through the turbulent beginnings of unit and individual prisoner management, to the creation of statewide Drug, Violence, and Sex Offender Strategies and the contracting out of key services; the latter has culminated in the privatization of 45 percent of the prisoner population and the closure of old prison stock. For CORE - the Public Correctional Enterprise, Victoria's public corrections agency, the journey has been one of significant organizational and cultural change, and progression to a learning organization. This is reflected in the way prisoners are managed. Whereas in the past, the purpose of imprisonment was nothing more than humane containment, the purpose of imprisonment now includes a requirement that there be active attempts to rehabilitate prisoners. This must be achieved through a combining of unit management and effective prison programs and prison security. Prison security will be maintained in such a system through closer surveillance, staff personal knowledge of prisoners, and through effective occupation of prisoners' time. Security is part of the process of creating a rehabilitative environment. This new humane containment mode will be achieved through a combining of the many facets of the prison system to promote pro-social behavior and prepare prisoners to reintegrate into society. 10 references