Implemented
Who is leading the change
Department of Justice and Community Safety
Corrections Victoria:
- inform post-release support services if a prisoner has a history of family violence victimisation to ensure that post-release accommodation arrangements do not place the prisoner at increased risk
- refer prisoners who have been victims of family violence to family violence services when they are being released
Our work on this recommendation involves:
- improving the Corrections Victoria Reintegration Pathway so it supports victim survivors of family violence
- considering family violence when providing housing recommendations for Parole Suitability Assessments
- providing family violence awareness training to Department of Justice and Regulation staff that engage with community members and may need to support family violence victims who have transitioned from prison into the community
- supporting referral and information sharing
- making available funded programs in the community for prisoners who are victim survivors of family violence post-release through the implementation of Recommendation 183
Work completed
The Corrections Victoria Reintegration Pathway is available to all sentenced prisoners and provides a range of transitional support services and referrals that aim to address individual identified transitional needs. Pre and post release contracted service providers have incorporated, or are incorporating, family violence policies within their respective programs to ensure they provide victims of family violence with an opportunity to access specialist support services to address their individual needs. The tender for an expanded service has been released and will capture services for short service prisoners and women on remand. An outcome of Recommendation 183, the Family Violence Identification Form will be a key input in the referral of victims to appropriate family violence support services during their transition from prison to the community.
As part of a prisoner’s transition out of prison, Corrections Victoria staff complete Parole Suitability Assessments. Staff consider family violence when providing recommendations regarding housing for those assessments.
The Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) Remand Outreach Pilot (CROP) at the DPFC works with the Offender Services Unit (OSU) to ensure that safety plans and referrals to family violence service providers are completed for both remand and sentenced women.
Family violence awareness training is provided to Department of Justice and Regulation staff that engage with community members. Sheriff’s officers, Consumer Affairs Victoria staff, and staff from Community Correctional Services have undertaken family violence awareness training to enhance their ability to support family violence victims who have transitioned from prison into the community.
Ongoing work
Corrections Victoria is participating in the 18 Risk Assessment Management Panels (RAMPs) across Victoria. They are also working with other agencies in relation to information sharing, including requirements for the establishment of the Central Information Point.
- Implemented.
Updated