Published Friday, 30 January, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Queensland’s correctional system one of Australia’s best
Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence today welcomed a national report that identified the Queensland correctional system as one of the best in the country, the Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport, Judy Spence said today.
Ms Spence said the Report on Government Services 2009 shows Queensland Corrective Services continues to perform well when compared to its interstate counterparts. `
The report, which compares the performance of all the country’s correctional systems during 2007-08 found that:
• Queensland reports the lowest prisoner and offender return rates in three of the four recidivism measures in the report. It was the second lowest in the fourth category.
• Queensland had no escapes from secure custody. The last escape from secure custody was in February 1998.
• Queensland had the third lowest recurrent cost per prisoner per day at $180.30 compared with the Australian average of $206.80
• Queensland had the lowest recurrent cost per offender in Probation and Parole costing $9.50 a day compared with the Australian average of $13.10.
“The major investment the state government has made in prison security and rehabilitation is showing results.
“There has not been an escape from secure custody and there’s less chance of an offender returning to prison than in other states. Queensland continues to lead the way for the fourth year in a row.
“They highlight the success of our practical evidence-based offender programs, education and training options and post release support,” Ms Spence said.
She said Queensland was the lowest in the number of prisoners returning to corrective services at 42.0 percent with the Australian average at 44.0 percent; the lowest number of offenders returning to community corrections at 12.1 per cent compared with the Australian average of 17.5 per cent; and the lowest number of offenders returning to corrective services at 20.4 percent compared with the Australian average of 27.9 per cent.
Queensland was the second lowest in prisoners returning to prison at 33.6 percent compared with the Australian average of 38.2 per cent.
These recidivism rates are calculated for all states and are based on the number of prisoners who re-offend within two years of their release.
The long term planning means that our capacity utilisation rate now at 95.9% (compared to a national average of 104.6%).
Media contact: 3239 6172
Ms Spence said the Report on Government Services 2009 shows Queensland Corrective Services continues to perform well when compared to its interstate counterparts. `
The report, which compares the performance of all the country’s correctional systems during 2007-08 found that:
• Queensland reports the lowest prisoner and offender return rates in three of the four recidivism measures in the report. It was the second lowest in the fourth category.
• Queensland had no escapes from secure custody. The last escape from secure custody was in February 1998.
• Queensland had the third lowest recurrent cost per prisoner per day at $180.30 compared with the Australian average of $206.80
• Queensland had the lowest recurrent cost per offender in Probation and Parole costing $9.50 a day compared with the Australian average of $13.10.
“The major investment the state government has made in prison security and rehabilitation is showing results.
“There has not been an escape from secure custody and there’s less chance of an offender returning to prison than in other states. Queensland continues to lead the way for the fourth year in a row.
“They highlight the success of our practical evidence-based offender programs, education and training options and post release support,” Ms Spence said.
She said Queensland was the lowest in the number of prisoners returning to corrective services at 42.0 percent with the Australian average at 44.0 percent; the lowest number of offenders returning to community corrections at 12.1 per cent compared with the Australian average of 17.5 per cent; and the lowest number of offenders returning to corrective services at 20.4 percent compared with the Australian average of 27.9 per cent.
Queensland was the second lowest in prisoners returning to prison at 33.6 percent compared with the Australian average of 38.2 per cent.
These recidivism rates are calculated for all states and are based on the number of prisoners who re-offend within two years of their release.
The long term planning means that our capacity utilisation rate now at 95.9% (compared to a national average of 104.6%).
Media contact: 3239 6172