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Letter to the Editor re: African young people in Victoria
The below letter was submitted to the Herald-Sun on July 18, 2018 with regard to recent comments made by the Prime Minister about young African people in Victoria. Dear Editor, Comments by the Prime Minister regarding young African people in Victoria this week have been inflammatory, misleading and unhelpful. Rita Panahi’s article responding to comments…
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Federal Government must help fund Royal Commission outcomes
Having established a Royal Commission which uncovered the depth of the mistreatment and abuse of young people in the Northern Territory’s youth detention system, the Federal Government must now adequately fund the final report’s recommendations, says Jesuit Social Services. “The landmark final report and recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of…
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Ombudsman report shows women with complex needs need better support
A report tabled by the Victorian Ombudsman today shows that a better response to women with disabilities and cognitive impairments in the criminal justice system is overdue, says Jesuit Social Services. The report, Implementing OPCAT in Victoria: report and inspection of the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, contains a range of findings spanning a week-long independent…
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Jesuit Social Services joins Stop Adani Alliance
Jesuit Social Services is voicing its opposition to the Carmichael coal project by joining the Stop Adani Alliance, and calls on other community sector organisations to advocate against the project. “We recognise that social and environmental justice are inextricably linked, and are committed to ecological justice,” says Jesuit Social Services Acting CEO Sally Parnell. “This project would have substantially negative climate impacts…
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Medically supervised injecting room will save lives
The two-year trial of a medically supervised injecting room at the North Richmond Community Health Centre in Melbourne’s inner suburbs will help save lives and create safer communities, says Jesuit Social Services. “Recently released data showed that deaths from drug overdoses in the Yarra Council area, which includes Richmond, have grown by 40 per cent this year,”…
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Overseas learnings can help reform troubled youth justice system
Victoria’s political leaders must articulate a clear vision for the state’s youth justice system based on prevention, diversion and rehabilitation, says Jesuit Social Services. The organisation, which has 40 years’ experience working with young people who have contact with the criminal justice system, will today release a report highlighting findings from a recent international study…
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Landmark review a new beginning for youth justice in Victoria
A landmark review into the Victorian youth justice system can help create a renewed focus and vision resulting in positive outcomes for young people and the community says Jesuit Social Services. The Youth Justice Review and Strategy: Meeting needs and reducing offending review, conducted by Professor James Ogloff and Penny Armytage, identities key factors behind…
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Youth crime prevention grants a piecemeal solution compared to youth justice infrastructure spend
Jesuit Social Services welcomes the $7.6 million investment into Youth Crime Prevention Grants to help local communities tackle youth crime, announced by the Victorian Government today. However, the funds are a piecemeal solution at a time of unprecedented spending on youth justice infrastructure, says the organisation. “The $7.6 million announced today is equivalent to just…
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Specialist court vital to address NT alcohol misuse
Judges need to have the option to send people with serious alcohol problems who commit crimes to treatment services instead of prison to address alcohol misuse in the Northern Territory, according to Jesuit Social Services. Jesuit Social Services will present recommendations from its submission to the Northern Territory Alcohol Policies and Legislation Review, including that…
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Record number of Victorian prisoners failing to create safer communities
With Victoria’s prison population having reached a record high of 7,155 this week, Jesuit Social Services says locking up increasing numbers of people will not create safer communities. “Victoria’s prison population has increased by more than 2,000 people in just five years, and this week’s figure of 7,155 people would have been unthinkable as recently…