New Evidence: Government Should Change Direction on Prisons

“The figures from the Bureau demonstrate that it is both cheaper and more effective to use alternative programs like the Drug Court than it is to just lock people up for drug offences,” said Ms Hale.

“Good policy is based on evidence, not the prejudices of tabloid radio and newspaper columnists.”

“The report from the Bureau provides solid evidence to support the greater use of alternative programs. Locking people up is both more expensive and less likely to stop them re-offending,” Ms Hale said.

“The use of alternative programs delivers social and economic benefits to the community. Less money is spent locking people up and there is less likelihood of drug offenders committing crimes in the future.”

The figures from the Bureau showed that, when the Drug Court and a comparison group were compared on an as-treated basis, members of the Drug Court group were found to be 37 per cent less likely to be reconvicted of any offence, 65 per cent less likely to be reconvicted of an offence against the person, 35 per cent less likely to be reconvicted of a property offence, and 58 per cent less likely to be reconvicted of a drug offence.

The figures also showed that the cost of the drug court program was less than the cost of dealing with the offenders through the prison system.

(see the Bureau’s release at http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au for full details)