Another sensible change

Mark Mitchell announced:

The coalition Government has taken the first steps to ensure prisoners on remand can access the rehabilitation and reintegration support they need to turn their lives around, says Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell.  

“The number of people on remand has increased by 146 per cent over the past 10 years. With almost 45 per cent of the prison population now on remand, the corrections system needs to adapt to support their needs so we can reduce re-offending and keep the public safe.

“That’s why, as part of this Government’s 100-day plan, we are taking steps to make it explicit in the Corrections Act 2004 that prisoners who are on remand and convicted of a crime will be provided with rehabilitation that helps address the causes of their offending.

Basically the current law doesn’t allow rehabilitation to be provided to prisoners on remand because they are awaiting trial or sentencing. This is pretty nuts as all prisoners should be able to access rehabilitation courses.

Not sure why it needed a change of Government to make it happen, but glad it is.