Bridging the gap : supporting the implemetation of family conferencing for inmates and their families

Abstract

Corrective Services New South Wales (CSNSW) aims to reduce re-offending by individuals who are under its supervision or in its custody by providing programs, services and opportunities for change. There is a growing body of evidence supporting the argument that prisoners are less likely to re-offend if they can maintain family contact during their sentence. Staying connected to family and social networks while in prison has been documented to reduce the risk of someone reoffending once they get out, and may also reduce the risk of relapsing into drug and alcohol use. (Hairston, 2003; Visher & Travis, 2003). This paper seeks to discuss the current literature around the issue of family focused interventions and to highlight the value of the use of family conferencing within CSNSW. It explores the research outcomes and practical experiences of national and international criminal justice agencies in their attempts to implement family focused initiatives and concludes that the inclusion of family conferencing within a suite of programs and services offered by CSNSW may add considerable value to service delivery throughout CSNSW and impact significantly on the likelihood of an offenders risk of reoffending.