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Strategic Directions
- VISION
Citizens who understand and are actively involved at a
community level in restorative approaches to justice and who value a
community comprising fulfilled and law abiding people.
MISSION
To reduce crime through advocacy, community involvement and the
implementation of exemplary programs and services:
 | by providing the opportunities and means for people who have
offended to restore relationships with their families, their victims,
and the community |
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| by assisting vulnerable people at risk of offending |
- PRINCIPLES
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| Restorative principles should guide the development of policy and
services in the criminal justice system. OARS SA subscribes to the
International Covenant on Victims Rights. |
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| Diversity in human life is valued as an important community asset
and specific groups of disadvantaged people should not be further
disadvantaged through interaction with the criminal justice system. |
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| Provision for minimum standards in accord with the United Nations
Minimum Standards should be implemented within correctional
facilities. |
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| Capital punishment is not acceptable in our society. |
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| People have the right to choose their lifestyle whilst accepting
responsibility for their actions. |
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| Investment in early intervention and crime prevention strategies
will prove beneficial at both the individual and social levels. |
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| Alternative sentencing options to imprisonment should be regarded as
high priorities. |
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| People who have offended and their families should be treated with a
non-judgemental attitude. |
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| Prisoners are punished by the restriction of their liberty and
whilst imprisoned they must be treated humanely and with dignity.
Implicit in this is recognition of the fundamental importance of
active and respected involvement of families and children in the lives
of offenders. |
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| Offenders have the right to be involved in the decision-making
processes of their restoration, reconciliation and rehabilitation. |
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| Participation of offenders in rehabilitative processes will enhance
reintegration into their families and the wider community. |
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| Social justice principles should be applied in the criminal justice
system. |
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| Collaborative decision making with all stakeholders involved should
be central to policy development and service delivery in the justice
system. |
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| Service development should be based on social science research
whenever possible. |
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| Freedom of religion and spiritual expression should be granted to
all persons residing in South Australia prisons. |
- PROGRAMS, GOALS & STRATEGIES
PREAMBLE
As a result of the somewhat artificial baoundaries
imposed by any attempt at a planning structure, some of the strategies in
the following Programs could be factors influencing multiple goals. As such,
some strategies have been placed under only one goal, but they apply across
several. This document must be read in its entirety to ensure an adequate
interpretation of OARS SA strategic directions.
- PROGRAM 1 Alternatives To Prison
GOAL Contribute to a reduction in the overall number of offenders who
enter prison or juvenile detention centres in South Australia.
Strategies
- Develop linkages with the Judiciary, Justice Portfolio agencies and
the Government to advocate that all offenders are properly considered
for an alternative sentence option other than imprisonment.
- Evaluate current alternative sentencing options and undertake research
to ensure a broad range of alternative sentence options are available in
SA and used effectively.
- Cooperate with the Justice Department Services in undertaking research
into high remand in custody rates in SA and develop programs to reduce
remand
- Develop linkages with the Police and Courts to ensure that all
offenders are adequately assessed for bail prior to being remanded in
custody.
- Develop a proposal to pilot a Victim Offender Reconciliation Program
in S.A.
- Develop innovative services to assist Drug Court and Police Drug
Diversion Scheme clients.
- Develop a plan to engage juvenile justice agencies and policy makers
for the express purpose of assisting young people who have offended when
released from detention.
- Advocate for the increased availability of accommodation for bailees
and Home Detention bailees and develop services to meet this need in
collaboration with the Department for Correctional Services.
- Advocate for improved access to bail options for women offenders,
develop models for services and implement services specifically designed
to meet women’s needs.
- Advocate for specific consideration at point of sentencing for the
availability of non-custodial options for women with children.
- PROGRAM 2 Prisoner Services
GOAL An increased proportion of prisoners who are supported in the
preservation of their rights and better prepared for rehabilitation,
specifically at the pre release stage.
Strategies
- Continue to maintain a visible presence and an active role in prisons
in SA.
- Working in collaboration with the Pre-release Centre and other prisons
develop and maintain a responsive support service to prisoners
particularly those who are preparing for their release by providing
individual counselling, advocacy and referral.
- Promote OARS SA Accommodation Services in all prisons and respond to
requests for post release, bail and home detention accommodation.
- Continue to explore options and develop services that assist in
maintaining relationships between imprisoned parents and their children.
- Provide health education services to pre release prisoners in relation
to blood borne diseases at selected prisons.
- Further develop opportunities for trained volunteers to contribute
towards a range of support services for prisoners.
- Provide a prison-based support service to partners of prisoners
focussed on health prevention including an outreach program at Yatala
Labour Prison.
- Seek ongoing funding to provide services at prisons for prisoner
support and family relations’ development.
- Continue to advocate for improvements in prisoner conditions.
- Advocate for the reintroduction of the remission system for prisoners.
- PROGRAM 3 Reducing Recidivism
GOAL A reduction in the number of people who re-offend after their
release.
Strategies
- Develop further the restorative aspects of all services.
- Provide rehabilitative casework and counselling for offenders
- Provide post release accommodation and support for prisoners, male and
female.
- Provide drug and alcohol treatment services for offenders.
- Lobby for more appropriate pre and post release services at the
political and service level.
- Provide emergency assistance to offenders and their families
- Work collaboratively with DHS and existing juvenile services to
examine and extend the options available to young offenders after
release.
- Promote awareness of the positive impact of stable families on
reducing recidivism.
- PROGRAM 4 Prisoner Family Support
GOAL Increased stability within the offender’s family, before, during
& after prison.
Strategies
- Provide counselling support to offenders and their families.
- Research and develop appropriate programs for children to assist them
to cope with their parent’s imprisonment and advocate for systemic
changes.
- Facilitate information sessions and workshops for family members.
- Provide limited infrastructure support to Self Help groups eg Parent
Support Group.
- Maintain existing Partners of Prisoners Program and extend to other
prisons.
- Provide prison visitors canteen services.
- Provide emergency assistance to eligible families and children
referred to OARS SA.
- Maintain the Christmas Toy Service for children of prisoners.
- Develop a plan to engage juvenile justice agencies and policy makers
for the express purpose of assisting young people who have offended when
released from detention.
- Advocate for the provision of relationships training for all prisoners
released back into their previous family situation.
- Advocate for a review of prisoner visits regimes and practices with
the particular needs of children in mind.
- PROGRAM 5 Early Intervention Crime Reduction
GOAL More people at risk of offending pursue a law abiding lifestyle
that is compatible with the society in which we live.
Strategies
- Develop and distribute information brochures and material.
- Undertake research on the relationship between poverty and welfare
issues, and crime.
- Maintain OARS S.A. membership of the Australian Crime Prevention
Council.
- Maintain OARS S.A. membership of the Institute for Justice Studies.
- Liaise regularly with the Crime Prevention Unit of the Attorney
General’s Department.
- Develop a partnership with DHS on juvenile crime prevention.
- Liaise with local government crime prevention committees.
- Maintain membership of the Pathways to Prevention Steering Committee.
- Liaise with the SAPOL Crime Reduction Section and Neighbourhood Watch
Program.
- Develop strategic alliances with organisations involved in early
intervention services.
- Continue to support and maintain the SACOSS Law and Justice Policy
Advisory Group.
- PROGRAM 6 Specific Populations
GOAL More offenders with identifiable disadvantages have their specific
needs addressed.
Strategies
- Undertake research into the needs of prisoners from specific cultural
groups.
- Liaise with APOSS, IDSC and SAMHS.
- Seek funding to implement a range of services for young people who
have offended.
- Lobby for increased service options for people with mental illness.
- Develop a post release accommodation service for women offenders in
harmony with other community organisations.
- Advocate for a broader range of services for female offenders.
- Support existing court programs for specific disadvantaged offenders
and promote appropriate expansions of these programs.
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- PROGRAM 7 Community Relations and Funds Development
GOAL More South Australians are well informed of OARS
SA activities and current issues relevant to the criminal justice system,
and are provided with opportunities to contribute funds, expertise and
skills to the organisation.
Strategies
- Develop a planned approach to fund raising and sponsorship.
- Further develop and fully establish the Centre for Restorative Justice.
- Publish RELEASE quarterly and actively pursue an increase in
circulation.
- Develop ongoing relationships with a broad cross section of community
groups.
- Develop and implement a planned media strategy.
- Continue to be active in media engagements over a broad range of issues.
- Liaise with the judiciary and Government departments to encourage the
development of a pro-active media relations program.
- Actively approach suitable people to become involved as OARS SA members
and to participate in committees and other voluntary activities.
- Develop and maintain an Internet Website.
- Develop new and maintain existing non-donation fund raising
opportunities.
- Obtain resources to conduct research.
PROGRAM 8 Volunteer Management and Development
GOAL Increase the number of trained, skilled and experienced volunteers
to contribute to the provision of services.
Strategies
- Support and encourage the development of local OARS SA Branches.
- Develop and implement an OARS SA Volunteer Recruitment and Training
Program including a Volunteer Handbook.
- Develop and implement an effective centralised volunteer information
management and recognition system.
- Develop effective networks for communication with other agencies working
with volunteers.
- Develop a manual for staff using volunteers in their programs.
- Further develop opportunities for trained volunteers to contribute
towards a range of support services for offenders and their families.
PROGRAM 9 Resource Management
GOAL All service resources are efficiently utilised and maximum results
obtained.
Strategies
- Maintain and further develop financial management systems and processes.
- Maintain and further develop risk management systems and processes.
- Maintain and further develop employee relations systems and processes.
- Develop and implement a strategic Information Technology program.
- Maintain and further develop an OHS&W program.
- Maintain and further develop administrative systems and processes.
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