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Prison spending increased $461.9 million in four years; equivalent to budget of 96 schools
The Victorian state government has inherited a costly and ineffective criminal justice system in serious need of significant reform, according to Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards. Today’s State Budget revealed that an additional $156.0 million will be spent on the criminal justice system over the next year, making it the fifth successive budget to…
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Members of the YJCSS After Hours team Young people who have had contact with the justice system and are now trying to get their lives back on track need support at the time they need it – not just between 9am and 5pm. Jesuit Social Services’ Youth Justice Community Support Service (YJCSS) After Hours program…
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Back in 1977, Jesuit Social Services was born (as Four Flats) to respond to a real and important need. It was apparent that young men were exiting prison into homelessness with little support and no prospects of a job. A quote by then Pentridge Prison Chaplain, Fr John Brosnan, became a guiding principle for our…
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We proudly welcomed 400 people to the MCG’s Members Dining Room on Saturday night for our annual fundraising dinner. Guests enjoyed a night of fine food, speeches, entertainment and an engaging Frank Costigan Address by the Honourable Justice Lex Lasry. Justice Lasry spoke about social justice, ethics and the “extraordinarily challenging” work being done by…
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Recent prison reforms undermining previous achievements
One month out from the New South Wales election, Jesuit Social Services says that the recent winding back of bail reforms and the introduction of mandatory sentencing undermine promising work in the criminal justice space in the past five years. In its recently released state election platform Building a just and safe NSW, the organisation…
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Global challenges, networking responses
Following the “Networking for Justice” meeting that took place in Loyola, Spain, from 16-20 November, our Chief Executive Officer Julie Edwards travelled to Madrid participate in a roundtable discussion organised at Comillas University on 23 November. The event, titled “Global challenges, networking responses”, was chaired by the Rector of the University, Julio Martínez and the…
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Increasing Indigenous prison rates requires a rethink
New data released yesterday revealing a further increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people incarcerated in Victoria is evidence that further work is needed to meet the specific needs of these groups in the justice system, says Jesuit Social Services. Quarterly Corrective Services statistics published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics…
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Frank Brennan SJ on Patrick Dodson’s Senate mandate
On 15 April 1991, 25 years ago this Friday, Elliott Johnston QC, Patrick Dodson and their fellow commissioners signed off on their final reports for the long running royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. That commission was set up by the Hawke government at the end of 1987 to investigate 99 Aboriginal deaths that…
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Victorian State Budget investment into vulnerable young people welcome
Investments in housing for people who have experienced family violence, a $32 million expansion of the Drug Court, an expansion of the successful Youth Diversion Pilot Program and $27.5 million dedicated to suicide prevention programs are welcome inclusions in the 2016-17 Victorian State Budget, says Jesuit Social Services. “With this budget, the Victorian Government has…