Design of the National Justice Reinvestment Program and Justice Reinvestment Unit

Project Member(s): Allison, F., Cunneen, C.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department (Attorney-General's Department (Commonwealth) PF)
Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department (Attorney-General's Department (Commonwealth) PF)

Start year: 2023

Summary: The proposed project involves preparation of assessment tools and two key findings reports to inform the roll out of funding ($81million) announced by the Federal Government to support justice reinvestment initiatives around Australia. Justice reinvestment is a framework for community development approaches to reducing incarceration, and in Australia, it generally has a First Nations focus. A number of communities around Australia are already implementing or are interested in exploring justice reinvestment. This funding will support additional justice reinvestment initiatives across the country. The funding commitment made by the Federal Government is in part a response to advocacy on the part of the Justice Reinvestment Network Australia (JRNA) and key findings of the Pathways to Justice inquiry finalised by the Australian Law Reform Commission in 2018. The project's first key findings report will inform the grants process that will provide communities and organisations with access to the funding in question. Alongside this key findings report the project will also require development of an internal and external grant application assessment tool (for funders to assess eligibility and for those applying for funds to assess their readiness/eligibility). The second key findings report will inform development of a national body that will support funded justice reinvestment initiatives over time and gather evidence on justice reinvestment challenges/successes, liaise with governments etc. These tools and reports will be developed following consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and key stakeholders (government and non-government) by the research team.

Publications:

Allison, F University of Technology Sydney 2023, National Justice Reinvestment Program: Interim Report, Sydney NSW.

FOR Codes: Law reform, Justice and the law, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander determinants of health, Crime and social justice , Law and society and socio-legal research, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.