Transforming justice Policy Policy Vacro advocates for systemic change that leads to a fairer justice system for all. You can download our 2022-25 Policy Priorities here. Read the Policy Priorities Policy Position Papers As part of Vacro's 2022-2025 policy and advocacy framework, a series of position papers have been developed that correspond to our 12 policy priorities for 2022-5. The policy position papers are short documents outlining Vacro's position on a priority policy issue. They include some clear, concise information about the problem, its context, and Vacro's proposed solutions. 1. Move away from prison and towards alternative responses to crime. 2. Reduce the number of people incarcerated in Victoria. 3. Forthcoming 4. Bring Victoria up to international standards for the treatment of people in prison. 5. Provide the same access to and standards of healthcare and disability services in prison as in the community. 6. Reform prison industry and training. 7. Formal recognition and support for families and children of people in prison. 8. Fund long-term, evidence-based reintegration programs for everyone leaving prison. 9. Expand access to parole. 10. Provide more housing for people leaving prison. 11. Support people leaving prison to find work. 12. Make sure no one is released from prison into poverty. Our Comprehensive Vision for Families in Contact with the Criminal Justice System proposes a holistic network of supports for families, from the point of arrest, through the court and prison systems and back into the community. We've also identified the whole-of-system changes needed to support this vision. Read the Vision for Families Policy Submissions Vacro advocates for these policy priorities in submissions and testimony to inquiries, through direct advocacy, and by engaging on issues in traditional and social media. Here is a selection of our recent submissions: Vacro submission to the National Children's Commissioner (June 2023) In our submission to the National Children’s Commissioner’s project investigating opportunities for the reform of youth justice and related systems across Australia, we argued that we do need a national approach to youth justice in Australia. We argued further that this approach must take the needs of children with incarcerated parents into consideration. Read the submission Vacro submission to the Yoorook Justice Commission (December 2022) In our submission to the Commission, we outline the post-release and reintegration needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples whom we support, and the barriers they face to accessing or fulfilling those needs. We hoped to be able to provide a useful insight into the systemic injustices our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants face upon release from prison. Read the submission Vacro submission to the Inquiry into the Children of Imprisoned Parents (April 2022) In our submission to the Inquiry into Children Affected by Parental Incarceration, we presented a wealth of evidence and experience gathered over multiple decades of supporting families of people who are incarcerated and called on the government to formally recognise them and their service needs. Read the submission Vacro submission to the Inquiry into Victoria's Criminal Justice System (September 2021) In our submission to the Inquiry, we made a series of recommendations to the Committee about transforming reintegration practice in Victoria's criminal justice system. Drawing on our throughcare model, we made the case strongly that reintegration starts in prison and asked the Committee to recommend a series of changes to the prison system that we believe would benefit our participants, their families, and their communities as a whole. We were also invited to appear at one of the Inquiry's public hearings; you can find video footage and transcripts of our appearance here. Read the submission Vacro submission to the Social Housing Regulation Review (September 2021) In our submission, we asked the Review to consider the specific and difficult circumstances of people leaving prison and trying to get a place in social housing to support their desistance and reintegration. We shared information about the severely limited housing options for our participants and made recommendations to provide more targeted housing for people leaving prison and reforming the allocation and assessment process for our participants in the social housing system. We were subsequently invited to an expert roundtable to share our knowledge of best practice tenancy sustainment for our participants. Read the submission Vacro policy contact Abigail Lewis, Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor, [email protected] Please note that requests from students relating to policy and advocacy should be sent to Vacro's student placement page. Manage Cookie Preferences