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Monday November  24, 2008  ABC2 8.30pm

LOCK UP

Do prisons work? Each year there are more and more people being locked up in Australian jails and juvenile detention centres but is it the best option and should some offenders be treated differently than others? It's an expensive policy as well as it costs on average $70,000 a year to keep someone inside. As part of the conversation we hear from former inmates, victims of crime and some people with ideas for alternatives to jail and at the centre of it is nineteen year old Adrian who's been in and out of lock up for the past five years.

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Lock up

Monday 24 November, 2008

Do prisons work?

Each year there are more and more people being locked up in Australian jails and juvenile detention centres but is it the best option and should some offenders be treated differently than others? It’s an expensive policy as well as it costs on average $70,000 a year to keep someone inside. As part of the conversation we hear from former inmates, victims of crime and some people with ideas for alternatives to jail and at the centre of it is nineteen year old Adrian who’s been in and out of lock up for the past five years.

case study
case study

Adrian has been to juvenile detention, adult prison and is now in rehab. He hasn’t had a good run the last few years but is keen to make a positive change in his life. He says he had to harden up in prison and was frustrated by the lack of help but reckons rehab is now giving him the opportunity to learn how to be a better person through counselling and guidance.

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Comments (7)

Add your comment

  • CHRIS S :

    25 Nov 2008 11:01:13pm

    People who commit serious crimes such as murder, rape etc should be executed.

    Reply Alert moderator

  • Jessica Wallace :

    25 Nov 2008 2:37:27pm

    hey it was a great show last night
    it was my first time watching the program but i am a JJJ listener

    i am also have just statred my hsc course and studying society and culture and we have recived our major assessment the PIP (personal intrest project)
    i have been troubled in finding a topic and after watching thte program have chosen this persific topic to do my study on.

    i was wondering if and time with in the next few months i could interviw some of the people that were on this show last night?

    my email is
    fat_goddess_666@hotmail.com

    and one with information that may be able to help me in this felid please contack me within the next few months.

    thankyou
    jessica wallace

    Reply Alert moderator

  • Ruben :

    25 Nov 2008 12:46:34pm

    Responsibility for food production could be developed in prisons, or rehabilitation centres. Being involved in the process of growing fruits and vegetables provides a sense of accomplishment amongst the people involved.

    Reply Alert moderator

  • Disturbed :

    25 Nov 2008 8:05:09am

    Some criminals are just evil people, they will never change. The only way to possibly change a future criminal is to set morals in young people with good role models like parents.

    All I heard was "...poor me, no one is helping me, there aren't any programs for me...", its just an excuse. A crim must want to change and make the change him/herself. Doing a course or reading a book will not do it and fail everytime.

    Take responsibility for yourself.

    Reply Alert moderator

  • Ben Nicholson :

    24 Nov 2008 11:35:56pm

    Great show tonight, it should have gone longer though, so much to talk about.

    I was released from prison on the 13th August this year after serving 4 1/2 years for drug import.
    The best thing that happened to me was the Oberon Young Adult Offenders Program. Its a 4 month program and it incorporates a mix of outdoor recreation, with therapeutic courses to help offenders address their offending behavior, and vocational courses to provide them with training and learning in order to gain employment upon release.

    There are also adult nucleus inmates to act as mentors and support the program staff in the day to day running of the program. After I completed the program I was able to stay on as an Adult Nucleus.

    The statistics from when the program first started in 91 to now show a huge drop (over 80%) in the recidivism rate for those that complete the program.

    They are also now bringing in female young offenders to do a shorter program, but with the same structure that is used with the men.

    The program Manager is Dennis Carey, and he created the program. He has overcome so many obstacles but this Friday he will MC the graduation for Intake 200.

    Does Rehabilitation work? Most definitely. Oberon has proven and will continue to prove that.

    Reply Alert moderator

  • D :

    24 Nov 2008 10:27:49pm

    Just on the topic of Rehab, most kids see that as a cop out. It gets you out of detention time and is the perfect place to escape and get away from. It'd be good, if it worked.

    Reply Alert moderator

  • D :

    24 Nov 2008 10:26:08pm

    Good work guys, I think this a really important issue to get out there. But I think there is a hell of a lot more to discuss on this topic. I think the whole juvenile justice system needs a hell of a lot of work. Juve is like a holiday on the inside, where you get a bed, tv, get fed and your own room. That's not good enough. The majority of these kids have nothing on the outside, once they get out, they just get thrown back into that environment of nothing. How are they expected to recover and clean up with support and a safe environment? They need more in society. They are only kids and arent strong enough to be expected to make it on their own and make the right decisions when there is nothing there for them to encourage, motivate and inspire them.

    Reply Alert moderator