InBrief

New research by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows that offenders dealt with under the Forum Sentencing scheme are no less likely to re-offend than offenders dealt with in a conventional court proceeding. The director of the Bureau, Dr Don Weatherburn, said in a media release today that there is only limited evidence that restorative justice programmes reduce recidivism. "Many of the individuals referred to Forum Sentencing have substantial criminal records, dating back in many cases to their teenage years. Entrenched patterns of criminal behaviour are difficult to change without a sustained effort to alter the factors that keep them involved in crime", said Dr Weatherburn. The report was published in the June edition of the Crime and Justice Bulletin. Visit the BOCSAR web site to learn more>

13 August 2009