Journal of Criminology

Can community corrections programs or probation reduce the incidence of recidivism among offenders under supervision? This question continues to be controversial. Some of the more recent research indicates, however, that recidivism is likely to be reduced by as much as fifty percent if certain supervision practices are adopted. This research has found, among other things, that supervision characterised by a pro-social approach, the use of problem solving and the use of empathy, is related to lower recidivism. This study looks at these factors in community based corrections in Victoria. It finds that where supervisors make use of these supervision principles, client recidivism rates, as measured by breach rates and re-offending rates one year and four years after the start of supervision, are twenty five to fifty percent lower. The study also finds that the pro-social approach seems to have more impact than the use of problem solving or empathy.

Hepatitis B and C viruses continue to spread in Victorians at risk of incarceration. We have therefore studied risk behaviours for these infections among 51 prisoners with a history of injecting drug use (IDU) in the central Victorian prison; 33 were also interviewed about their tattooing experience. Half had injected inside prison in the preceding month, an average of 5.5 times, suggesting up to 9,000 injections p.a. in this prison. Almost all shared inadequately disinfected equipment, with no way of knowing how many had used it before. First sharing of injecting equipment had been in prison for a fifth. Almost 90% were HCV infected. Almost all had been tattooed, with 60% having had at least one while in prison, while five reported more than 50 tattoos in prison. Urgent consideration of methods to decrease these risks is necessary, including assessment of the feasibility of controversial strategies such as needle and syringe exchange programs and the provision of sterile tattooing equipment.

Child abuse has emerged as a central theme in efforts to understand a wide variety of problems, including delinquency. This study utilises the computerised records of substantiated abuse in the Florida Protective Services System's Department of Children, Youth, and Families to examine the effects of child abuse on earty onset of delinquency. A control group matched on racial group, gender, age, and socioeconomic status is used to compare the delinquency rates among the abused and non-abused. The abused children had a higher delinquency referral rate than the control group children and the relationship between abuse and delinquency was found to be statistically significant at.038 level. Age was found to be significant at.091 level. Abused children were found being referred more for personal and status offences.

In a state known for consistently high incarceration rates, especially of Aboriginal people, the Labor governments of the 1980s created two criminologically based research or advisory bodies. The paper looks at the background and history of each — the State Government Advisory Committee on Young Offenders and the Crime Research Centre (and the lessons learned therefrom in light of policy making decisions, both by the Labor Government which created them and its successor, the Liberal Government of Richard Court). The first was composed largely of high ranking judicial, police and bureaucratic members, high profile community members and skilled research staff. Its fate was sealed by its insistence on independence. The second is university-based with a statistical and research focus. Independently funded, it survives but what effect has it had? The author was at one time a member of the Committee and a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre.