A Strategic Plan for Corrections in Tasmania 2023

A Briefing Document
Changing Lives, Creating Futures

This briefing doc reviews the main themes and key ideas from the Tasmanian Department of Justice's "Changing Lives, Creating Futures: A Strategic Plan for Corrections in Tasmania 2023". The plan outlines a multi-faceted approach to improve the Tasmanian corrections system, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration, infrastructure development, and staff empowerment.

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Main Themes:

• Shifting Focus to Rehabilitation and Reintegration: The plan emphasizes a move away from purely punitive measures toward a rehabilitative approach. This is evident in the Minister's title change to Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, signifying the government's commitment to reducing recidivism through offender rehabilitation.

• Investment in Infrastructure: The plan highlights significant infrastructure development, including the new Southern Remand Centre and upcoming Northern Correctional Facility, alongside improvements to existing facilities. These modern, purpose-built environments aim to foster rehabilitation and improve staff and inmate safety.

• Empowering the Workforce: The plan recognizes the importance of a skilled and supported workforce. It outlines strategies to improve staff training, recruitment, and wellbeing, fostering a positive work environment that facilitates the implementation of the new strategic direction.

• Addressing the Over-Representation of Aboriginal People: Recognizing the disproportionate number of Aboriginal people in the corrections system, the plan commits to working with Aboriginal communities to develop a framework aimed at reducing incarceration rates. This will involve direct engagement with Aboriginal people in decision-making and policy development.

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Key Ideas and Facts:

1. Improve Lives and Reduce Harm:

• Focus: Aboriginal inmates and offenders

  • Low literacy and numeracy rates

  • High risk of reoffending

  • History of family violence

  • Inmates and offenders with disabilities

  • Female inmates and offenders

• Actions: “Review and update our intake and assessment framework.” (TPS)

  • “Increase the availability of and access to programs and interventions for all persons in custody.” (TPS)

  • “Develop and implement a person-centric case management framework.” (Joint)

  • “Develop a supported Reintegration Model for inmates and offenders, and engage our partners in this process.” (Joint)

• Goals: Reduce reoffending and return to custody rates.

  • Increase participation in education and training programs.

  • Improve reintegration of offenders into the community.

  • “By 2031, reduce the rate of Aboriginal adults held in prison by at least 15% in line with commitments under Closing the Gap.”
     

2. Invest in Our People:

• Focus: Employee retention and engagement

  • Investing in future leaders

  • Professional development and training

  • Workforce planning and capability building

  • Creating a values-based organizational culture

• Actions: “Build and implement a Corrections People Strategy” (Joint) which includes:

  • Workforce planning

  • Targeted training

  • Attraction and retention strategies

  • Career pathway development

  • Mentoring and leadership programs

• Goals: Support rehabilitation and reintegration goals through staff training and empowerment.

  • Embed values and enhance rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes.

  • Improve staff ability to respond to changes through training and development opportunities.

  • Increase collaboration between Tasmania Prison Service and Community Corrections.

  • Foster a transparent and understood decision-making culture.
     

3. Build Environments for Change:

• Focus: Making correctional facilities fit for purpose and safe.

  • Strategically managing assets and prioritizing high-priority areas.

  • Developing information systems and technologies to enhance service delivery and security.

  • Providing contemporary facilities for Community Corrections in Launceston and Burnie.

  • Implementing design principles of the Southern Remand Centre.

• Actions:  Develop the Northern Correctional Facility.

  • Build a new kitchen for Risdon Prison.

  • Upgrade electronic security systems at Risdon Prison Complex and Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison.

  • Implement the new information management system, Astria.

  • “Develop a new maximum-rated unit and activities space at the Risdon Prison Complex.”

• Goals: Provide a statewide Corrections system that meets international and national standards.

  • Deliver public value and return on investment by ensuring adaptable infrastructure.

  • Provide purpose-built infrastructure and technologies that support program access.
     

4. Closing the Gap:

• Focus: Directly involving Aboriginal people in developing frameworks and interventions.

  • Increasing Aboriginal employment within the organization.

  • Building staff cultural competence.

  • Actions:“Develop and implement the Framework: Our Commitment to Closing the Gap in Corrections in Tasmania.” (Joint)

  • This framework will be developed and managed in consultation with the Justice Policy Partnership.

• Goals: Ensure Aboriginal people are not over-represented in the criminal justice system.

  • Improve service delivery to Aboriginal people in the system.

  • Develop best practice interventions to reduce incarceration and recidivism rates.

  • Involve Aboriginal people in decision-making and policy development.
     

5. Focus on Safety:

• Focus: Providing a safe environment for staff, inmates, remandees, and offenders.

  • Increasing understanding of the causes of violence, including family violence.

  • Enhancing cultural safety.

  • Preventing and managing threatening behaviour.

  • Improving responses to serious incidents and threats of violence.

  • Providing humane accommodation and supervision.

• Actions: “Develop and implement training opportunities for our staff, so they are equipped to prevent and respond to violence.” (Joint)

  • Develop and implement evidence-based initiatives and programs to address and reduce violent behaviour.

  • Equip staff with adequate equipment and technologies to prevent and respond to violence.

• Goals: Enhance the safety of the Tasmanian community.

  • Ensure staff feel safe and able to perform their duties with minimal fear of assault.

  • Reduce the number of serious incidents and threats of violence committed by inmates.

  • Develop behaviour management strategies and policies that support a safer environment.
     

6. Reshape our organisation:

• Focus: Identifying opportunities for collaboration between Tasmania Prison Service and Community Corrections.

  • Improving the delivery of person-centric case management.

• Actions: Develop a network structure across Corrections that:

  • Encourages staff involvement

  • Increases capability and transparency in decision-making

  • Takes advantage of collaboration, partnerships, and economies of scale

  • Prioritizes flexibility and learning from experience

• Goals: Improve delivery of rehabilitation and reintegration services.

  • Enhance collaboration between Tasmania Prison Service and Community Corrections.

  • Increase staff engagement and involvement in decision-making.

  • Achieve economies of scale in service delivery.

  • Improve collaboration with strategic partners.

Implementation:

The plan outlines a phased approach to implementation over five years with reviews scheduled in year 2 and year 4 to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness. This adaptable approach allows for adjustments based on the evolving needs of the corrections sector and the achievement of the plan's long-term goals.

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Conclusion:

"Changing Lives, Creating Futures" presents a comprehensive and ambitious strategy for improving the Tasmanian corrections system. By focusing on rehabilitation, infrastructure development, and staff empowerment, the plan seeks to create a safer Tasmania and improve the lives of those impacted by the criminal justice system.

Department of Justice

Deep Dive into the Corrections Tasmania Strategic Plan 2023