FROM A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA - CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN A PENAL COLONY

• NCJ Number: 59004
• Journal: BRA (BROTTSFOREBYGGANDE RADET) - APROPA Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 48-54
• Author(s): K LINDBY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council for Crime Prevention
• Publication Format: Article
• Country: Sweden
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN AUSTRALIA, A COUNTRY THAT AS A COLONY HOUSED ENGLAND'S EXILED OFFENDERS, IS DISCUSSED BY A VISITING SWEDISH CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONAL, AS IS AUSTRALIA'S CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.

Abstract

BANK ROBBERY IS AUSTRALIA'S MOST COMMON CRIME; MURDER, OTHER KINDS OF ROBBERY, AND NARCOTICS ABUSE ARE PROBLEMS ALSO. POLICING IS AN HISTORICALLY UNPOPULAR OCCUPATION IN THE COUNTRY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARD POLICE IS ONE OF SUSPICION AND MISTRUST. HOWEVER, WOMEN OFFICERS ARE INCREASING IN NUMBERS (BARELY 1 PERCENT OF THE QUEENSLAND POLICE FORCE IN 1970 WAS FEMALE COMPARED TO NEARLY 10 PERCENT IN 1977), WHICH COULD HAVE SOME INFLUENCE ON POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. AUSTRALIA'S GREATEST INNOVATION IS ITS SYSTEM FOR ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION. OFFENDERS, ON BEING CONVICTED AND DESIGNATED BY THE COURT AS FITTING FOR SUCH A SENTENCE, CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN IMPRISONMENT AND COMMUNITY WORK. THIS SYSTEM WAS BEGUN IN TASMANIA IN 1972 AND HAS SINCE SPREAD TO THE MAINLAND. THE OFFENDER MUST WORK 1 DAY A WEEK FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME (THE MAXIMUM PERIOD BEING 6 MONTHS) WITHOUT PAY. WHEN THE SYSTEM WAS FIRST INSTITUTED OUTSIDE OF TASMANIA, MEDIA CRITICIZED IT AS IRRESPONSIBLE AND THE CITIZENRY WAS APPREHENSIVE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. INITIALLY, OFFENDERS WERE ASSIGNED TO SPECIFIC WORK PROJECTS, USUALLY GARDENING AND MAINTENANCE IN PUBLIC PARKS AND BUILDINGS, AND WORKED UNDER SUPERVISION. A HIGH RATE OF ATTRITION OCCURRED. LATER, A CHANGE ALLOWED OFFENDERS TO CHOOSE THEIR TYPE OF DUTY (HELPING OUT IN OLD FOLKS HOMES OR DAY CARE CENTERS FOR EXAMPLE) AND TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY FROM CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION. THIS METHOD APPEARS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE. CORRECTIONAL MONEY HAS BEEN SAVED, NO INCIDENTS INVOLVING VIOLENCE HAVE OCCURRED, AND OFFENDERS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THEIR FRIENDSHIPS WITH CLIENTS AND FEELINGS OF INDEPENDENCE AND USEFULNESS. -- IN SWEDISH. (DAG)