intervention programs

Transcription

1 intervention programs

2 Contents Introduction... 1 Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services in South Australia... 2 Integrated Offender Management... 2 Offenders in the Community... 2 Rehabilitation of Offenders in Prison... 5 Additional Rehabilitation Programs... 8 The Reintegration Program... 8 The Sierra Program... 8 BHP Prisoner Reintegration Employment Opportunity Program (PREOP)... 9 Education and Vocational Training...10 The Integrated Housing Exits Program...11 Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community

3 In December 2014 the Attorney-General released the Transforming Criminal Justice: Putting People First Strategic Overview (the Strategic Overview) which raised questions with the community and the legal profession about the operation of the criminal justice system as a whole. 1 The Strategic Overview outlined the Government s intention to progress reform of the criminal justice system to enhance community protection and reduce the rate of crime and the rate at which people offend and reoffend. The criminal justice system is made up of a number of agencies and organisations with each playing a central role in addressing crime in our community. An overview and explanation of the operation of the criminal justice system can be found in the Strategic Overview, available at: The Strategic Overview noted that we need to explore ideas to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation and reintegration services so that communities continue to become safer. The Strategic Overview also included a Map of Ideas setting out the areas of reform that need to be considered. The Map of Ideas included consideration of community based sentencing options, intensive alternatives to custody, rehabilitation and reintegration and step down correctional and noncorrectional facilities. The South Australian Government has now released the Discussion Paper on Better Sentencing Options to engage the community in a conversation about what the appropriate consequences are for offenders who commit crimes and how best the community can be best served through the sentencing of offenders. 2 Through the Discussion Paper, the Government is asking the community to consider whether some individuals, who would otherwise be sentenced to imprisonment, should be punished in other ways so they serve their sentence in the community. By remaining in the community, an offender has better opportunities to rehabilitate and therefore may be less likely to commit more criminal offences. By providing an improved and more flexible sentencing regime we want to contribute to lower rates of recidivism, thereby enhancing community safety and slowing the increase in prisoner numbers. New technologies, such as GPS, have created new ways of both protecting the community and supervising offenders in our community more effectively and efficiently. Through the Discussion Paper the Government is asking the community to ask themselves whether the community is better served by not imprisoning some offenders. The community is asked to consider the purpose of imprisonment and whether serving a sentence in the community could provide better outcomes for the entire community of South Australia. The intention of the Discussion Paper is to consider the appropriate sentences for those offenders who can be rehabilitated. As such, any consideration or analysis of alternatives to imprisonment must include an examination of the current approach to rehabilitation (both within the prison system and in the community) and offender reintegration. This Supplementary Fact Sheet on Rehabilitation and Reintegration provides further information about offender rehabilitation and reintegration in South Australia. 1 Copies of the Strategic Overview and material concerning other Transforming Criminal Justice are available at: 2 Discussion Paper is available at: Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 1

4 Community based organisations are central to the provision of rehabilitation and reintegration services. Set out below are the current approaches to rehabilitation and reintegration taken by the Department for Correctional Services (the Department). This information is provided to inform discussion on the appropriateness of alternatives to custody in South Australia. Integrated Offender Management The concept of Integrated Offender Management is integral to the Department s goal of achieving reduced recidivism and successful offender reintegration. Integrated Offender Management is a framework that facilitates a coordinated approach to an offender s management and reintegration, from the time of first contact with the Department. This approach includes the delivery of appropriate, offence specific rehabilitation programs alongside effective case management and the opportunity for offenders to undertake quality education and vocational training. Combined with collaboration from partner Government agencies and non-government organisations, Integrated Offender Management assists the Department in making lasting change in the lives of offenders. Current strategic initiatives for Integrated Offender Management strategies include: improving the multi-disciplinary management of offenders with complex needs; managing the effective transition and reintegration of offenders into the community; providing appropriate risk-based information and reports to inform decision making on offenders and providing targeted interventions and rehabilitation services; and improving the whole of sentence management of offenders. Offenders in the Community South Australian courts can sentence adult offenders to undertake community based sanctions/orders including Probation (Bonds), Community Service (Repay SA), Supervised Bail or Intensive Bail Supervision (court ordered Home Detention Bail). During the period of their community based sentence, offenders are supervised by the Department through case management services provided by Community Correctional Centres. The Department also provides community based supervision for offenders on parole and home detention. The Department manages 16 Community Correctional Centres and outreach services which are located across the State. In , the Centres were divided amongst three separate regions: the Southern Region, the Northern Region and Central. Enhanced Community Corrections The Department s Enhanced Community Corrections framework enables risk based offender management where resources are focused on offenders who represent the greatest risk to the community: the higher the risk, the more intensive is the supervision, monitoring, programs and case management provided. The Enhanced Community Corrections framework enables the Department to effectively and rigorously manage adult offenders in the community with a focus on public safety, public confidence, offender responsibility and the rights of victims. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 2

5 The Enhanced Community Corrections framework involves four tiers or levels of supervision; Control, Change, Assist, and Monitor. Each level of supervision has service standards and specifications which result in more intensive supervision for high risk offenders in line with the risk principle and evidence based practice. The Control Tier offenders are managed by senior case managers with a strong focus on public protection and community safety. The Change Tier focuses on utilising Department resources to address motivation to change and involves the use of Departmental intervention programs. The Assist Tier focused on offenders who are of medium to low risk and who can benefit from community based programs to address their criminogenic needs. Community Service (Repay SA) Repay SA is the Department s offender Community Service Program which allows adult offenders to repay their debt to society through supervised community work projects. The focus of Repay SA is not only allowing offenders to be accountable for their crimes but also to provide meaningful work where offenders can acquire new skills that will assist with obtaining employment. For many adult offenders, Repay SA is their first experience at making a positive contribution to their community. Repay SA projects (which are funded by the Department) generally comprise work groups involving four to eight offenders who are managed by supervisors. These work groups undertake a range of projects throughout the community which involve partnerships with local and State Government organisations and community agencies who also contribute to the cost of work groups and supervisors. A number of Repay SA offenders have special needs, including physical, psychological, and alcohol and other drug problems which may preclude them from working on mainstream projects. As a result, the Department provides alternative work to enable these offenders to complete their hours. Adult offenders who have been assessed as suitable to undertake Repay SA may be placed at organisations or community agencies and work with agency workers and volunteers. In these instances, the Department has criteria to ensure that the project does not secure a pecuniary profit for its members, provides aid to the disadvantaged or is a project of a Government Department or instrumentality, or local Government authority. The Department also manages Detag, a graffiti removal program. Detag is run in conjunction with local and State Government organisations and provides a responsive, cost efficient and sustainable program to remove graffiti throughout the community. Graffiti removal costs the community millions of dollars each year and Detag is just one way to minimise the impact of this cost. Probation A court may release an adult offender on a bond to be of good behaviour (Probation). A bond may require an offender to meet a number of conditions such as being under the supervision of a community corrections officer, undertaking assessment and intervention (including attending programs relating to their offending behaviour), residing or not residing at certain places or undertaking or refraining from undertaking specified employment as directed. When adult offenders are placed under supervision, a community corrections officer assesses their risk of reoffending and criminogenic needs. The assessment of criminogenic needs identifies those factors that may contribute to offending behaviour, for example, alcohol and other drug use, poor anger management, dysfunctional thinking and reasoning skills. Based on the results of risk and needs assessments, a case plan is developed. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 3

6 During the period of the bond, ongoing reviews of the offender and their case plan are undertaken. Depending on the progress of the offender and the implementation of the case plan, they may be reassessed as lower risk and their level of supervision reduced where appropriate. Other issues such as mental health problems may be addressed by referral to appropriate community services. Unless offenders breach their orders and fail to report (or an administrative discharge is authorised) they are supervised for the entire period of their order. Intensive Probation Supervision Since 1999, the courts have been empowered to order home curfews with Intensive Probation Supervision for adult offenders who, but for ill health, disability or frailty would otherwise have been sentenced to imprisonment. A full case management service is provided, including supported access to wrap-around services to meet the needs of the individual. This program relieves the community of the cost of imprisonment, and allows offenders to have access to the services they require to manage their special needs. Intensive Probation Supervision also involves offenders being subject to home detention conditions with electronic monitoring (in most cases). Parole Adult offenders with prison sentences of 12 months or longer are required to have a nonparole period set by the court (unless the court declines to set one). Adult offenders serving a sentence of five or less years, other than those convicted of a sexual offence, personal violence offence or arson, are automatically eligible for release on parole at the expiration of their non-parole period if they agree to comply with the conditions of release set by the Parole Board. Adult prisoners serving a period of imprisonment for a sexual offence, personal violence offence or arson are precluded from being automatically eligible for release on parole. They must apply for release on parole, which is considered by the Parole Board. In addition, those prisoners serving a term of five years or more are also required to apply for release, and the Parole Board makes the decision whether or not to release the prisoner, and provides the conditions of release. For those prisoners serving a life sentence, the Governor in Executive Council must approve the Parole Board s recommendation for release. The Parole Board of South Australia is assisted in making its decisions by a Parole Report, completed by a community corrections officer. The Parole Report contains comprehensive information regarding background, offending history, an assessment of the prisoner s risk and criminogenic needs, behavioural patterns in prison, recommendations for programs to be undertaken, and release plans. The Parole Report also makes recommendations regarding the conditions of parole. Home Detention Home detention provides an option for certain prisoners to complete their prison sentence at home. The program, which has been operating in South Australia since 1986, is one of the Department s most intensive and successful community based programs. Prisoners who have completed half of their non-parole period and are in the last 12 months of their non-parole period, or who have satisfied half of their sentence (if sentenced to 12 months or less), are able to apply for home detention. The Home Detention Committee assesses all such applications against the eligibility criteria. Sex offenders, homicide offenders and terrorists are ineligible for release. Release conditions are strict and may require prisoners to be subject to electronic monitoring. Breaches of any condition may result in immediate revocation of the release order and subsequent return to prison. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 4

7 Community service work can be ordered by the Home Detention Committee if an offender on home detention has no employment or study, which gives an offender the opportunity to make restitution and gain vocational skills that may lead to employment. Intensive Bail Supervision (Home Detention Bail) Courts have been empowered, since 1987, to release a defendant on bail with conditions of home curfew and Intensive Bail Supervision. This program is managed similarly to home detention, although with an increased surveillance component. Almost all (95 per cent) Intensive Bail Supervision Orders include electronic monitoring conditions. Courts are first required to consider a Departmental report on the suitability of the proposed residence and may seek further advice regarding other factors that may affect the successful completion of the order. Bail A defendant may be granted a Bail Order, with a condition that their release on bail be under the supervision of a community corrections officer. Conditions may be imposed covering areas such as where defendants can reside and with whom they can associate, assessment and/or treatment they are required to undertake or programs they must attend. The main purpose of bail with supervision is to ensure that defendants comply with the conditions of their Bail Order and attend court as required. However, the period during which a person is on bail can be a time when intervention to address the issues underlying their alleged offending behaviour can be very effective. Therefore, where a court has imposed appropriate conditions, or where the defendant is willing to do so, he or she can engage in counselling and programs whilst on bail. Offenders on bail are required to have regular contact with their community corrections officer and breaches of conditions, such as failure to report, are reported back to the courts. Rehabilitation of Offenders in Prison Each prison in the state plays a specific function within the correctional system and is committed to keeping prisoners, staff and the community safe. South Australian prisons are equipped with some of the most advanced infrastructure to protect prisoners, staff and keep members of the community safe. A prisoner s ability to progress through the correctional system is managed through an individualised case management system. This system provides information about a prisoner s assessed level of risk (both institutional and with regard to the community) as well as their level of behavioural compliance in accordance with the various prison regimes. Once an offender re-enters the community (but remains under the Department s supervision) supervision is managed in accordance with the Department s evidence-based practice of Enhanced Community Corrections. The Department s relationships and communication with other Justice agencies such as SAPOL and the courts are also critical to offender risk management and community safety. Nine prisons are located in South Australia: Yatala Labour Prison (YLP), the Adelaide Women s Prison (AWP), the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre (APC) and the Adelaide Remand Centre (ARC) located in the metropolitan area, with the remaining facilities located in regional South Australia, Mobilong Prison (MOB), Port Augusta Prison (PAP), Port Lincoln Prison (PLP), Cadell Training Centre (CTC) and Mount Gambier Prison (MGP). Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 5

8 Psychological Services The Department employs psychologists who provide specialist assessment services utilising internationally recognised best practice principles. Departmental psychologists work collaboratively with other service providers, such as the SA Prison Health Service and Forensic Mental Health Services to provide intervention and specialised assessments for offenders who are affected by substance abuse and/or personality and mental health disorders. Psychologists are also involved in High Risk Assessment Team meetings and Behavioural Management Forums. This involvement is a multi-disciplinary approach which facilitates urgent referrals for prisoners requiring immediate treatment, crisis intervention and specialised management strategies. The role of the psychologist attached to the High Risk Assessment Teams provides an opportunity for specialist assessment and advice to further guide behaviour modification and risk management strategies. The Department delivers a number of programs targeted at offending behaviour. Departmental programs are central to Integrated Offender Management and are currently delivered across a range of locations, both in prisons and Community Corrections. The Violence Prevention Program (VPP) The VPP is delivered by psychologists and social workers from the Rehabilitation Programs Branch with specialist experience and knowledge in working with high-risk violent offenders. The program is of moderate-high intensity and consists of approximately 200 hours in duration over a nine month period. The program was sourced from New Zealand Correctional Services, where it had been shown to be effective in reducing risks related to violent reoffending. It provides treatment to prisoners and community based offenders who are assessed as being of medium to high risk of violent reoffending, as well as those individuals with a history of violence-related offending. The Sexual Behaviours Clinic (SBC) Program The SBC is delivered by psychologists and social workers from the Rehabilitation Programs Branch with specialist experience and knowledge in working with adult and child sex offenders. The program is of moderate-high intensity and consists of approximately 200 hours in duration over a nine month period. The program was sourced from Canadian Correctional Services where it had been found to be effective in reducing risk related to sexual reoffending. The program provides treatment to offenders convicted of a sexual offence (against either adult or child victims) and who have been assessed as being at moderate to high risk of sexual reoffending. The Sexual Behaviours Clinic-me (SBC-me) Program The SBC-me Program was developed in 2011 in response to a number of sex offenders who had been identified as having a mild to borderline level of intellectual disability or cognitive deficits that would preclude them from participating in mainstream therapeutic programs. The program is delivered by psychologists and social workers from the Rehabilitation Programs Branch with specialist experience and knowledge in working with adult and child sex offenders with intellectual disability and cognitive defects. The program is high-intensity and is run over a 14 month period and comprises approximately 230 group-based hours. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 6

9 The Making Changes Program The Making Changes Program is a moderate intensity program that targets general offending and offending related to substance misuse. The program consists of approximately 140 group-based treatment hours across three intervention phases within each course of program delivery. The Making Changes Program replaced the previously run low intensity core programs, including anger management, victim awareness and drug and alcohol programs. The aim of the Making Changes Program is to support offenders to increase their insight into why they offend and the effects of their offending, and develop the skills and strategies they need so they do not reoffend with the ultimate outcome of a safer community. The Making Changes Program is delivered to both prisoners and offenders in the community and is delivered by specially trained social workers based at the community correctional and prison sites. The Domestic Abuse Program In addition to the VPP, a program was sought for prisoners and offenders who have been charged with a domestic abuse related offence and who are currently under the Department s supervision. The Department identified an appropriate Domestic Abuse Program (DAP) from NSW Corrective Services to implement during The pilot of DAP was 10-weeks in duration and was completed at the end of September The evaluation report is imminent and will assist in informing the future of the program. The Cross Borders Program The Cross Borders Indigenous Family Violence Program (CBIFV Program) was created in 2007 as a result of a proposal put forward by the Department, with the support of the Western Australian Department of Corrective Services and the Northern Territory Department of Justice. The CBIFV Program was developed in response to increasing demand from courts, parole boards and releasing authorities for a sustainable intervention to reduce the risk of violence based reoffending in remote Aboriginal communities. The CBIFV Program covers the remote regions of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) lands of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The initial key focus of the CBIFV Program was to initiate change in adult male Aboriginal offenders, particularly those under supervision by State and Territory correctional agencies. During the experience of the Department s work in the NPY communities it became apparent that there was a need to deliver a family violence program in selected communities for women perpetrators of violence. As a result, the Department developed a trial female program in Commonwealth funding arrangements for the trial female program was received for the amount of $ which assisted with the CBIFV Program s implementation. The first trial CBIFV Program for females commenced delivery in late September 2012 in Finke in the Northern Territory. Additional programs have since been completed including in Warburton (in Western Australia) and Fregon (in South Australia). On average 12 participants attended on each day with the support of female Aboriginal Elders. All communities where the CBIFV Program was delivered support its extension. The CBIFV Program is delivered with flexibility to suit community obligations but generally requires approximately 55 hours participation (usually four days a week over four weeks). Commitment to attendance is a strong component of the program with participants unable to miss more than two sessions. Since its commencement in 2007, over 300 individuals have completed the male program (of those, over 200 were mandated to attend) and over 40 have completed the female program (only a small number of these were mandated to attend). Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 7

10 Additional Rehabilitation Programs The Reintegration Program As per recommendations in contemporary correctional research the Department believes that effective partnerships with community based organisations can lead to better outcomes in the reintegration of offenders when they leave prison and re-enter the community. Services offered (both to prisoners before their release and to offenders who are managed in the community) include assistance with obtaining accommodation, financial management, vocation and employment advocacy and access and engagement with other support services. In 2012 the Department commenced a review of reintegration needs for prisoners with a view to target suitably assessed prisoners within three months of their conditional release date. Reintegration programs, similar to programs targeting criminogenic needs, have been demonstrated to achieve positive outcomes when services focus on assessed needs, are targeted with appropriate intensity and are delivered in an appropriate format. A Pilot Reintegration Program (the PR Program) commenced at the Adelaide Women s and Mobilong Prisons in July and August The PR Program was for prisoners serving sentences greater than 12 months and covered eight distinct modules identification, accommodation, budgeting, finance and Centrelink, community corrections, alcohol and other drugs, relationships, health and employment. The PR Program was facilitated by Departmental staff in conjunction with other Government agencies (including Centrelink) and non-government organisations (including Relationships Australia). A total of 47 prisoners participated in at least one module of the PR Program. With the consideration and endorsement of the recommendations from the pilot the Reintegration Program is now continuing and being established in other prisons. The Reintegration Program will continue to strengthen its partnership with other Government agencies and non-government organisations to provide a collaborated approach to addressing the needs of the offenders. Managing the transition of offenders back into the community and strengthening community partnerships to reintegrate offenders back into the community is a strategic priority for the Department and included in the Department s Business Plan for The Sierra Program The Sierra Program targets young offenders aged between 18 and 23 years. The key partners of the program include Youth Justice (which is within the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion), the Duke of Edinburgh Program, the Department for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), the Department for Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) and Technical and Further Education South Australia (TAFE-SA). This cognitive based program is based on relevant literature on the characteristics and needs of young persons involved in criminal behaviour. It aims to assist participants to build essential skills that support an offence-free lifestyle after release from prison. The primary objective of the Sierra Program is improved psychological maturity and selfdiscipline. By providing young males with opportunity to demonstrate a mature approach to life, they are better equipped to re-enter the community, participate in a low security program or reside in a mainstream prison unit. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 8

11 Other objectives are: the provision of structure, boundaries and standards; improving literacy and numeracy; improving health and fitness; development of teamwork; development of life skills including decision making; development of work skills; provision of cultural knowledge; effective unit routines; and enhanced personal discipline. Core interventions such as the Making Changes program can be embedded into the Sierra Program for suitably assessed offenders. In addition, at key points in the program, offenders will be offered the opportunity for key family members to be invited to visit and participate in case reviews. The Sierra Program includes thematic weeks which support the aims of the core components. Themes will include a Volunteering Week, Cultural Week and a Careers Week. These objectives are consistent with the Shaping Corrections goals as well as the outputs defined in the Department Services Specification One - Offender Programs. Furthermore, the separation of younger offenders is generally recognised as providing a safer prison environment. Participant Selection The Sierra Program is aimed at sentenced offenders aged 23 and under with identified immaturity and life skills deficits who are serving a sentence of imprisonment in excess of six months. Assessment is made using a multi-disciplinary assessment panel and offender interview chaired by the Assistant General Manager. The Sierra Program is suitable for identified offenders who are commencing a long sentence as it motivates them to behave maturely and be ready willing and able to access services throughout their sentence plan. Exit Pathways Each program participant will have an identified exit pathway and transition plan. Where possible, participants will exit to low security programs such as Work Camp or the BHP Prisoner Reintegration Employment Opportunity Program. BHP Prisoner Reintegration Employment Opportunity Program (PREOP) PREOP is a partnership between Port Augusta Prison and BHP Billiton that provides low security prisoners with the opportunity to develop skills and improve their chances to secure employment upon release from prison. PREOP sees prisoners undergo training in areas such as elevated work platform, forklift operation and front loader training. Prisoners also participate in construction industry safety training to obtain their nationally recognised White Card. The White Card is an Occupational Health Safety and Welfare certificate necessary for work in construction areas. PREOP was conducted on a trial basis in the financial year when two programs operated out of Port Augusta Prison. A high percentage of Aboriginal low security prisoners participated in the pilot. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 9

12 The participants undertook work experience at Olympic Dam and Andamooka Station. Some of the work carried out as part of the program includes renovation and maintenance work like painting, landscaping and concreting. Other work by prisoners at Olympic Dam and Roxby Downs has included flood remediation work which is of great value to the community. Following the great success of the three trial programs, the program was implemented and is now running regularly out of Port Augusta Prison. A Memorandum of Understanding between BHP Billiton and the Department was agreed upon for the PREOP arrangements for a 12 month period from July 2009 to July 2010 and a new three year agreement commenced in early 2012 to cover a further three distinct camps. Each PREOP covers a period of about 10 weeks with three, 14-day camps interspersed by two, two weekly periods located at the prison. In the 42 designated camp days, the prisoners spend 14 days on training at Roxby Downs (but not at the mine site). On the other camp days the prisoners perform general maintenance and cleaning around the camp and also perform community service such as tree planting at a local school during weekends. Prior to the camps going out, the prisoners attend up to five days training conducted at Port Augusta Prison. There is an average of twelve prisoners supervised by two field supervisors on each program. Many of the involved prisoners have been offered employment. PREOP teaches work skills but also teaches some life skills such as budgeting and cooking but also a work ethic: important skills and training that many of these prisoners may never have had. Since commencement more than 60 prisoners have completed the program with over half gaining employment on a contract basis (upon their release from prison). This includes 30 Aboriginal individuals who successfully completed the program. The key partners for the program are BHP-Billiton Olympic Dam, Skilled Hire (previously Xceptional Recruitment), ODT Australia, CEG and DEEWR. Education and Vocational Training Numerous international and Australian studies of correctional education and vocational training have concluded that receiving educational input in prison reduces recidivism. VTEC-SA is the Department s Registered Training Organisation. Its primary function is to ensure that the scope of qualifications (provided to prisoners, community based offenders and Departmental staff) comply with the national standards set by the Australian Skills Quality Authority and conditions for Registered Training Organisations. VTEC staff also provide advice on planning and policy and offer direction for the education and training programs which the Department is registered to deliver. The Department focuses on targeting prisoners who have low levels of literacy and numeracy and who have a high risk of reoffending to improve opportunities for prisoners to access gainful employment upon their release. This is in line with the risk, needs, responsivity model of offender rehabilitation and best practice in the delivery of education and vocational training in a correctional setting the provision of education and vocational training. This is achieved by the combined review of an assessment of an individual s risk of reoffending alongside a formal assessment of their educational needs. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 10

13 The Integrated Housing Exits Program The Integrated Housing Exits Program (IHEP) commenced following the 2003 Social Inclusion Board Report, Reducing Homelessness in South Australia: Everyone s Responsibility which identified release from correctional facilities and remand as a high impact area for crisis intervention. As a result a partnership was formed between the Department, Housing SA and the community organisation - OARS Community Transitions. The overall aim of the IHEP initiative is to reduce prisoner exits into homelessness, and in turn decrease the incidence of recidivism. Eligible prisoners are those offenders who are remanded or sentenced to a period of incarceration under 12 months (and who have been assessed as being homeless). Offenders are also required to have been assessed by Housing SA as having a Category 1 status. These offenders often have a multitude of complex needs associated with repeated periods of incarceration and homelessness. If eligible, adult offenders may be streamlined through to Integrated Housing Exits Alternative Accommodation Service (IHEAAS) if there are no identified vacancies on release. IHEAAS is a subsidiary program established in 2012 where participants are provided with a case management service to find alternative accommodation (either private rental, community housing or Housing SA properties). Integrated Housing Exits Program in Offenders involved in IHEP program 60 Former prisoners accommodated 94 Referrals to IHEAAS 13 Housing Outreach Program assessments 126 (39 unsuitable, 87 suitable) The collaboration between Housing SA and the Department will continue in to secure the maximum number of properties allocated to this project (60 beds), and ensure that the services continue to support the goal of reducing homelessness and reducing reoffending. Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 11

14 Better Sentencing Options: Creating the Best Outcome for Our Community 12