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WA Justice Centre needed to reduce crime rate
New research from The University of Western Australia’s Law School has modelled out the need for a Community Justice Centre to effectively address the underlying causes of crime in the state and reduce rates of recidivism.
Jerome Doraisamy
The feasibility study, titled “Doing Justice Differently”, espoused a proposed Community Justice Centre as a “one-stop shop” including a court, crime prevention team and key support services all in the one location, which would operate in partnership with the local community.
With WA Corrective Services spending over $900 million in the past year, and 39 per cent of imprisoned offenders back behind bars within two years of release, UWA Law School associate professor Sarah Murray said new approaches were needed using local knowledge and bringing the community into the picture.
“What’s of particular concern is that WA has the highest imprisonment rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia,” she said.
“We need to partner with local Elders, Aboriginal-controlled organisations and key community and government groups to co-design justice solutions that meet local needs and provide culturally safer justice experiences.”
“The centre would house a court but it becomes so much more than that, hosting local events for the community and allowing members of the public to play an active role in creating positive and safe neighbourhoods,” she said.
For such centres, imprisonment would be just one of a suite of options that could be required, she said.
“However, in other cases, engagement with the criminal justice system is an opportunity for offenders to turn their lives around using community-based options that allow them to undergo drug or alcohol treatment, access mental health services or secure permanent housing or employment,” she added.
“Another benefit of a Community Justice Centre is that the court lists, services and crime prevention activities would be streamlined and tailored to the unique needs of the particular locality, creating more efficient and effective justice outcomes.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. In June 2024, he also assumed the editorship of HR Leader. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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