Next Generation on The Outside
Next Generation on the Outside.
Better outcomes for vulnerable families in contact with
Australian criminal justice systems (2011)
VACRO’s most recent publication looks at the ordinary
functioning of the criminal justice system and the unintended
adverse effects on families and children of offenders.
Through no fault of their own, these children are already
exposed to higher than usual levels of parental drug and alcohol
use, family violence, mental illness, poverty, housing
instability, child abuse and social isolation.
Risks to children’s safety and well being then increase
with parental contact with criminal justice systems.
The body of the document looks at each critical stage of contact
(police, courts, community corrections, custody and
reintegration) describing the issues that arise and proposing
priorities for action, consistent with a throughcare approach.
The final
section of the document addresses actions or planning
that need to occur at the level of systems.
These include data collection, research,
leadership and collaboration.
Each action forms part of a coordinated response
that will ultimately lead to the delivery of better
justice and community service responses.
Why take action on this issue?
The document proposes a coordinated framework
for work by many stakeholders that will improve
responses to the needs of children and families of
offenders.
The aim is to protect children from harm and at the same
time produce outcomes that will benefit the whole
community by reducing the individual and social burden
of crime.
Reasons for responding in this way include: |
 |
>> Protecting
children from harm and intervening early to protect
children from increased exposure to risk factors;
>> Promoting
children’s growth, well being and healthy development
to improve life chances.
>>
Supporting opportunities
for children’s development and engagement in education;
>> Strengthening
families’ capacity to cope and to support children with
improved access to services, building individual and family
resilience;
>> Engaging all
family members - vulnerable parents, carers and
children - in support through local primary care and education
systems.
>> Reducing the
economic and social costs of reactive crisis
interventions (health, welfare and criminal justice responses);
>> Improving
service ability to address multiple forms of
disadvantage through joined up services and reducing the social
burden of criminal activity.
Download
a copy of Next Generation
here. Hard
copies of the report are available on request.
Please contact VACRO Reception (+61 3 9605 1900) or email
info@vacro.org.au
If you would like further information about
Next Generation or to
discuss VACRO’s work in this area, please contact:
Mary-Ann Robinson, Manager, Research and Development
mrobinson@vacro.org.au
Melanie Field-Pimm, Senior Project Officer
mfpimm@vacro.org.au
|
