NCJ Number
55807
Journal
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALND JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 81-88
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE SATURDAY WORK ORDER SCHEME OF TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA, IS EXPLAINED. THE SENTENCING PROJECT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE PRISON POPULATION; THE WORK PROJECTS ARE OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY; OFFENDERS GAIN NEW INTERESTS.
Abstract
THIS ARTICLE IS A REPLY TO CRITICISM OF THE SENTENCING PLAN. IT WAS CHARGED THAT THOSE WHO ARE SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY WORK ON SATURDAYS WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE TO PRISON IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT THE PROJECTS ARE USELESS 'HARD LABOR EXERCISES.' PRISON STATISTICS ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL. IT IS FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO SHORT TERMS IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION BEGAN TO DROP IN 1972, THE YEAR THE SATURDAY WORK ORDERS WERE INTRODUCED. THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS RECEIVED ANNUALLY HAD INCREASED FROM 714 IN 1967 TO 849 IN 1971. THE YEAR AFTER WORK ORDERS WERE INTRODUCED THIS FIGURE DROPPED TO 757 AND IN 1976 WAS 618. MEANWHILE, THE NUMBER OF MINOR OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO WORK ORDERS INCREASED FROM 259 IN 1972 TO 524 IN 1975. BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PROJECTS ARE AVAILABLE. OFFENDERS HELP PENSIONERS, CLEAN HISTORICAL CEMETARIES, BUILD PLAYGROUNDS FOR HOMES FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, DO MAINTENANCE WORK AT CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS, AND PERFORM SIMILAR COMMUNITY SERVICES. MANY OFFENDERS WHO BECAME INTERESTED IN THE INSTITUTIONS FOR WHICH THEY WORKED COME BACK TO WORK FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS AFTER THE WORK ORDER WAS OVER. CHARTS PRESENT THE STATAISTICAL DATA. NOTES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)