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Throughcare in the Territory: small steps to big change

Throughcare in the Territory: small steps to big change. Jared Sharp Advocacy Manager NAAJA Jared.sharp@naaja.org.au. This Presentation:. Context – ‘Justice NT Style’ Description of NAAJA Throughcare Lessons so far, future directions. Justice … ‘NT style’ . How do we compare?.

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Throughcare in the Territory: small steps to big change

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  1. Throughcare in the Territory:small steps to big change Jared Sharp Advocacy Manager NAAJA Jared.sharp@naaja.org.au

  2. This Presentation: • Context – ‘Justice NT Style’ • Description of NAAJA Throughcare • Lessons so far, future directions

  3. Justice … ‘NT style’ How do we compare? Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4517.0 - Prisoners in Australia (2 April 2013) 28

  4. Unsustainable cost • It costs at least $250 per day to imprison an adult in the NT. This equates to: • $8000 PER MONTH • $25,000 FOR 3 MONTHS • $50,000 FOR 6 MONTHS • $100,000 PER YEAR • It costs DOUBLE THAT to keep a young person in detention • Budget forecasts for 2013-14: 50% increase of young people in detention

  5. Prison Number Trajectory • Despite a $495 million new prison set to open in 2014, we will: • likely need to keep Berrimah open • Need another 1000 bed prison by 2016 • Need yet another by 2020

  6. Disproportionate impact on Aboriginal People • 84% of adults in prison are Aboriginal • 98% of young people in detention are Aboriginal • ‘The violence of poverty’ no coincidence that Aboriginal people are also more likely to experience high levels of poverty, inadequate housing, health and education, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, overrepresentation in child protection, family abuse, and a loss of connection to community and culture.

  7. ABC story on NAAJA Throughcare ‘New program aims to break prison cycle’ A scheme is helping newly-released prisoners in a bid to reduce the NT's high recidivism rate. 28 Jul 2012, 730NT, ABC TV (1.05 – 3.15) • http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-27/new-program-aims-to-break-prison-cycle/4160682

  8. Throughcare context at NAAJA • NAAJA provides highquality and culturally proficient criminal and civil legal assistance for Aboriginal people in the Top End. • In addition to the criminal and civil legal practices, NAAJA also operates an advocacy section which focusses on policy& law reform, community legal education and project, and Throughcare. True Justice, Dignity and Respect for Aboriginal people

  9. Our Service Area • In Context: • Darwin to Lajamanu: 873km • Katherine to Borroloola:739km • Melbourne to Sydney : 876km • Katherine to Ngukurr: 330km • Canberra to Sydney: 287km

  10. Language & Culture Language & Culture Language • Rich language in the NT • Importance of usinginterpreters

  11. Who is the Throughcare team? • Established in 2009, Funded by the Cth Attorney General’s Department’s • Two teams: – • Prison-based: 2 workers, focus is supporting prisoners access services and to develop post release plans, especially re parole • Palmerston: 4 workers, focus is intensive case management, working with client 6 months pre release and continuing at least 6 months post release

  12. Throughcare Continuum

  13. NAAJA Throughcare • Culturally strengthening • Intensive – 15 clients max • Empowering • Voluntary • Strengths-based • High needs – those who most need our help

  14. Statistics on parole (January–August 2012)

  15. Throughcare’s success • Only 13% of our clients have returned to prison whilst they have been part of our program • Almost 50% recidivism rate in the NT (within 2 years of release)

  16. Case study – Alice (not her real name) • 17 - Sentenced to 2 years and 6 months – partly suspended - for violent offending • Complex family problems – little contact with father; mother seemed more interested in drinking and her own life than looking after her children • No permanent or secure housing: mother travelled frequently while young. Mother threw client out of home in a regional town, and drifted to Darwin. • Carries a lot of hurt and anger. • Using drugs and alcohol as an escape. • Disrupted education • Negative friendship influences • Sexual assault victim – hasn’t had sexual assault counseling • Other mental heath issues

  17. 6 months pre-release • Visit client every Tuesday • Learn more about client: wants to finish school, where live and who with, discuss aspirations (wants to be nurse) • Encouraging: schooling, volunteering, behaviour in detention (client misbehaving 2 months prior to parole date because old ‘partner in crime’ moves to Don Dale) • Visit local high school. Difficulties in getting them to agree to enrol due to client’s history – advocate. Work with NT Schools and Family Support Centre to get client into schooling • meet with family. Multiple home visits, relationship building • Organisepsychologist– requires ongoing encouragement • Open bank account, arrange key card • Start Centrelink application process • Crisis accommodation through NT Housing • Application for NT Housing • Investigate options elsewhere

  18. Point of Release • Pick up client from front gates upon her release. • Take client to her family’s house where she will be living • Difficulties getting client into school continue. Ineligible as she is required to do pre-schooling entry course. • Enrol client in NTOEC– organise all forms • Take client to first meeting with new school (principal, attendance and truancy officer, school enrolment and attendance team and assistant principal Year 11) • Take client to report at Corrections and to get pathology tests • Organise living outside family home benefit with Centrelink and regular Centrelink benefit • Arrange client’s ID

  19. 6 months post-release • Falling out with family (who evicted from housing) – help client find alternative housing • Movesto community out of Darwin to live with boyfriend. Boyfriend’s mother assaults and threatens client. Arrange for client to leave. • Organiselawyer to assist with DVO against ex-boyfriend’s mother • Post DVO – help client secure crisis accommodation • Arrange for client to stay with NTOEC permanently due to client’s fears she will not be well-suited to mainstream education • Information about Training Connections Australia • Assisted client begin work at Safe House in community– help with application, letters of reference, ID • Assist applying for job with the Defence Indigenous Development Program • Strategize how to avoid negative family influences • Encourage client to be punctual and reliable • Encourage client to not see her Aboriginality as barrier - keep her motivated to stay in school and apply for work • Discover client was sexually assaulted in past - arrange sexual assault counseling but requires a lot of encouragement to attend

  20. Small and large successes • Completed schooling • Successfully entered Defence Indigenous Development Program. • Begun to write. Still hoping to pursue career as a nurse down the track. • life skills – tenacity, determination, ability to manage family issues, avoid negative influences, save money, become punctual and reliable • relationship of trust – opened up about sexual assault • Never failed to report • Never delivered a ‘dirty’ urine sample. • Did not breach any parole conditions • Did not reoffend

  21. Case study – Dwayne(not his real name) • 6 year sentence as a 16 year old • NPP 3 years and 9 months • When turned 18, moved to adult prison > currently Low security • Eligible for parole February 2013, full term April 2015 • Very little development of parole plan • NAAJA involved – working with this client for 3 years

  22. Post-release planning • 2013 - Parole plans faltering: • Repeated deferrals since 2012 for further development of post release plans, psychological assessment re risk of re-offending, as well as accommodation issue. • Parole Officer consider accommodation option unacceptable. • Also says Elders don’t want him to return to that town. This is in conflict with instructions from client • At same time, PPO not proactively looking for alternative options. • Upshot is that left in custody, and as with many of our clients, could mean serve full term in custody

  23. Client-centred post-release planning • NAAJA Throughcare worker continues to work tirelessly with client, family, to develop post-release plans • Travelled to town (about 750kms from Darwin) to meet with family and Elders to assess return to that town and formulate a solid release proposal. • Whilst there, met with nearby station and able to arrange full-time employment.

  24. Dwayne now has viable post-release option • Alternative: spend next 1-2 years in custody, unlikely do programs, leave jail with poor prospects • How this post-release plan achieved? • Proactive, responsive to exploring all options • Unwillingness to tolerate status quo • Ability to effectively engage family and Elders • Willingness to do things in the right way – face to face • Going above and beyond to maximise reintegration prospects – pursuing job on station

  25. What makes successful Throughcare? • Highly skilled and motivated staff • Client-centred, relationship-based • Working with individualand family • Ongoing support, on client’s terms (voluntary) • Culturally strengthening • Fiscally-sound:If we keep just 5 people out of jail for 12 months, we are paying for the annual cost of the project • But not just about the money! Ethically and morally sound

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