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Imprisonment and Recidivism Inquiry Queensland Productivity Commission PO Box 12112 George St, Brisbane 4003

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Imprisonment and Recidivism Inquiry Queensland Productivity Commission PO Box 12112 George St, Brisbane 4003 18 September 2018 Imprisonment and recidivism inquiry Queensland Productivity Commission PO Box 12112 George St, Brisbane 4003 Dear Sir/Madam Imprisonment and recidivism The Balanced Justice Project is a campaign which aims to enhance the safety of all Queenslanders by promoting understanding of criminal justice policies that are effective, evidence-based and human rights compliant. Balanced Justice involves a number of community groups, which work together to develop resources that promote community understanding around evidence-based, effective and human rights compliant criminal justice policies. We attach eleven factsheets which discuss specific opportunities to improve Queensland’s criminal justice system, and to make our community safer. In November 2014, Balanced Justice commissioned UQ economists Associate Professor Jacqueline Robinson and Dr Alexandra Bratanova to undertake an economic analysis of potential Queensland budget savings. We attach their report, which estimated redirecting funds from detention centres and other costly responses to criminal offending towards early intervention services could save the Queensland budget up to $263m to 2030. We hope that these resources will be helpful for the Queensland Productivity Commission’s inquiry into imprisonment and recidivism in Queensland. We would be happy to discuss the content of these materials with the Commission, and I can be contacted on . Yours sincerely, James Farrell OAM Balanced Justice www.balancedjustice.org Crime statistics – the real picture Although crime statistics can help to provide a police (i.e. fear of retribution or fear of giving picture of the current situation regarding crime, it is evidence), it is important to note that despite the important to understand the limitation of crime name, crime victim surveys are not surveys of statistics when interpreting them. victims of crime. Crime victim surveys are representative sample surveys of a defined Crime statistic sources population (usually the adult population) which can be used to obtain estimates of the prevalence of Information about crime trends in Australia comes certain types of crimes in the population and from two main sources – police statistics and crime estimates of the proportions of victims reporting victim surveys. these crimes to the police.4 As crime victim surveys measure both reported and unreported crimes, Police statistics count all the incidents recorded as these surveys have the potential to give a more crimes by the police during the year in each state accurate picture of the true prevalence of crime and territory. These statistics are generally than police statistics.5 However, in order for crime reported as incidence measures, that is, a count of victim surveys to accurately reflect the true crime reported crimes, usually presented as a rate situation, the sample surveys must be truly between the number of crimes and the number of representative of the population. people in the general population.1 National figures on a selection of important crimes are published by Is crime increasing? the Australian Bureau of Statistics in an annual report. Queensland Police statistics show that in Major crime victim surveys are conducted by the Queensland, between 2000 and 2011: Australian Bureau of Statistics and these surveys homicide rate fell by 56% ask people aged 15 years and over whether they assault rate fell by 10% have experienced particular crimes over the past 12 robbery rate fell by 39% months. Crime survey results are usually based on sexual assault rate fell by 31% prevalence measures, that is, the number of crime drug offence rate fell by 1%.6 victims, usually expressed as a percentage of people or households that experienced the crime, National crime statistics show that between 2000 regardless of the number of times victimised.2 and 2009, the national homicide rate fell by 39 per cent, the national robbery rate fell by 55 per cent, Reliability of crime statistics the national motor vehicle theft rate fell by 62 per cent and all forms of other theft fell by 39 per cent.7 The greatest weakness of police statistics is that not all crimes are reported to or recorded by the Crime victim surveys also show a decrease in police. There are only a few types of crimes where assault, robbery, break-in and malicious property virtually all the offences are reported to or damage rates between 2008-09 and 2011-12.8 discovered by police (e.g. motor vehicle theft, homicide).3 This means that the police statistics Therefore, considering the above, crime rates produced may not reflect the true crime situation. appear to be on the decline. While the anonymity associated with crime victim surveys helps to avoid some of the problems associated with the underreporting of crimes to www.balancedjustice.org Public perception assumptions about what is happening across the state. Despite the reality that crime rates are falling, it is a Therefore, to ensure that the community is properly commonly held view amongst Australians that crime informed, we believe that a crime statistics agency, is on the rise.9 The reason for this view can likely which is independent of police and government, be attributed to distorted, misrepresented or should be established in Queensland. This exaggerated facts on crime in the media and by agency’s role would be to monitor crime statistics politicians and the police.10 and crime recording practices, publish regular Although there are various ways that the media reports on crime trends, provide statistical abuse crime statistics, a common method is the information to the community and provide selective reporting of data. This usually involves independent advice to the government. comparing a period where the recorded crime rate is unusually low with a period where the crime rate is unusually high, resulting in a completely distorted References view on the ‘trend’ in crime rates.11 An obvious 1 Henderson, M,’ Australia Crime Trends’ (2012) 24(1) Legaldate 2 at 2. motivation for the manipulation of crime statistics is 2 As above. the increased public attention which such 3 Weatherburn, D, ‘Uses and Abuses of Crime Statistics’ (2011) November sensationalised statistics attract. (No. 153) Crime and Justice Bulletin: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice 1 at 3. 4 Politicians and police also engage in the selective As above at 2. 5 As above at 3. use of data, selective reporting of the facts and 6 Queensland Police Service, Reported Offence Rates July 1997 to June misleading commentary, in order to manipulate 2012, published at < crime statistics in a way which best suits their http://www.police.qld.gov.au/services/reportsPublications/> (28 March objectives. 12 Reasons for doing so may include the 2013). downplaying of certain statistics, or the bolstering of 7 Weatherburn, D, ‘Uses and Abuses of Crime Statistics’ (2011) November support for a proposed legislative reform. (No. 153) Crime and Justice Bulletin: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice 1 at 1. 8 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Crime Victimisation, Australia, 2011-12, Balanced Justice view published at < http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4530.0/> (28 March 2013); Australian Bureau of Statistics, Crime Victimisation, Unlike New South Wales, Western Australia and Australia, 2008-09, published at South Australia, Queensland does not have an <http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/allprimarymainfeatures/E agency which independently compiles, analyses 929631D0E1956F1CA257839000DEF96?opendocument> (28 March and publishes crime statistics. 2013). 9 Weatherburn, D, ‘Uses and Abuses of Crime Statistics’ (2011) November On 27 June 2013, the Queensland Police Service (No. 153) Crime and Justice Bulletin: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice 1 at 1; Gelb, K, ‘More Myths and Misconceptions’ (2008) introduced the ‘Online Crime Statistics Portal’. This Sentencing Advisory Council at 4 portal enables community members to access https://sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/content/publications/more-myths- crime statistics for their street, suburb, postcode, and-misconceptions (28 March 2013). local government area, neighbourhood watch area 10 Weatherburn, D, ‘Uses and Abuses of Crime Statistics’ (2011) or police region, district or division. While we November (No. 153) Crime and Justice Bulletin: Contemporary Issues in welcome the public having increased access to Crime and Justice 1 at 1. 11 As above at 10. crime statistics, we are concerned that by 12 As above. encouraging community members to focus on crime This factsheet was updated on 28 June 2013 statistics in a particular area, communities may end up with a skewed perspective about crime activities This factsheet is for information and discussion purposes only. It occurring in Queensland and make incorrect does not represent the views of organisations involved in the Balanced Justice Project. www.balancedjustice.org Detention and bail for children Detention as a last resort The United Nations’ Standard Minimum Rules for the Whatever the reason, what is important is that any Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules) interventions will help to foster a young person’s 6 which outline the importance of nations establishing a desistance from crime. It has been found that the more set of laws, rules and provisions specifically applicable restrictive and intensive an intervention, the greater its to child offenders and with the administration of juvenile negative impact, with juvenile detention being found to (youth) justice being designed
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