Reconsidering Reconsidering Post-Release RiskPost-Release Risk

Diana JohnsDiana JohnsPhD, PhD, Australian Prisons ProjectAustralian Prisons Project

(www.app.unsw.edu.au)(www.app.unsw.edu.au)

My PhD ResearchMy PhD Research

‘‘Getting out, Fitting in, Getting on - The Getting out, Fitting in, Getting on - The Culture of Prison Release: Post-release theory, Culture of Prison Release: Post-release theory, practice and lived experience in Victoria.’practice and lived experience in Victoria.’

A ‘culture of prison release’A ‘culture of prison release’ Adult men released from prison in VictoriaAdult men released from prison in Victoria 30 face-to-face, semi-structured interviews30 face-to-face, semi-structured interviews Attending to the subjective experience allows Attending to the subjective experience allows

different understanding of post-release riskdifferent understanding of post-release risk

Imprisonment in Victoria, 2008-09Imprisonment in Victoria, 2008-09 Daily average of 4,042 men in prison;Daily average of 4,042 men in prison; 51% imprisoned before;51% imprisoned before; 5,051 receptions of 4,542 individual men, i.e. 5,051 receptions of 4,542 individual men, i.e.

509 returns to custody;509 returns to custody; 3,150 men received (62%) were unsentenced;3,150 men received (62%) were unsentenced; 4,939 discharges of male prisoners 4,939 discharges of male prisoners (D of J, 2009)(D of J, 2009)

1,534 released on parole 1,534 released on parole (Adult Parole Board, 2009) (Adult Parole Board, 2009)

Around 3,000 men on straight release. Around 3,000 men on straight release.

The cycle of imprisonment…The cycle of imprisonment…Risky populations, risky systemsRisky populations, risky systems

A ‘risky population to be efficiently and prudently A ‘risky population to be efficiently and prudently managed’ managed’ (Hannah-Moffat, 2005: 30)(Hannah-Moffat, 2005: 30)

‘‘Risky systems’ (Halsey, 2007)Risky systems’ (Halsey, 2007) Aspects emerging from interviews with released Aspects emerging from interviews with released

prisoners and post-release support workers:prisoners and post-release support workers: homelessnesshomelessness drug usedrug use post-prison culture post-prison culture paradox of paroleparadox of parole

‘‘Scott’Scott’

Age 35, 17 years in and out of prison, ‘Age 35, 17 years in and out of prison, ‘it’s like it’s like a merry-go-rounda merry-go-round’:’:

I was out two days, then I was out five days, I was out two days, then I was out five days, you know, ’cause I had nowhere to go, so I just you know, ’cause I had nowhere to go, so I just got out, got stoned off my head, done a burg, got out, got stoned off my head, done a burg, got pinched, went back to jail for another year got pinched, went back to jail for another year and a half or two. Got out, nowhere to live and a half or two. Got out, nowhere to live again, got pilled off my head, done another again, got pilled off my head, done another burg, got pinched, done another year or two…burg, got pinched, done another year or two…

Risks of homelessnessRisks of homelessness

Limited post-release housing optionsLimited post-release housing options Transitional housing scarce, competition highTransitional housing scarce, competition high Public housing waiting lists longPublic housing waiting lists long Private rental market inaccessiblePrivate rental market inaccessible A room in a boarding houseA room in a boarding house ‘‘Those that do go into boarding houses are Those that do go into boarding houses are

more likely to reoffend…’ more likely to reoffend…’ [Link Out worker][Link Out worker]

Straight release, nowhere to go…Straight release, nowhere to go…

When you get out on a straight release you When you get out on a straight release you got no support, like if you got nowhere to go, got no support, like if you got nowhere to go, it doesn’t matter mate, it’s out the door, bad it doesn’t matter mate, it’s out the door, bad luck...You got nowhere to live? Oh, here y’are, luck...You got nowhere to live? Oh, here y’are, I can give you three days in a hotel… I can give you three days in a hotel… [‘Scott’][‘Scott’]

I was telling them I had I was telling them I had nowherenowhere and still all and still all they did was get me a hotel for the first two they did was get me a hotel for the first two days I was out… days I was out… [‘Ben’][‘Ben’]

Post-prison cyclesPost-prison cycles

I’d come out and I’d just have no-one, nothing I’d come out and I’d just have no-one, nothing to do, and I’d go nuts, I’d go stir crazy … Sure to do, and I’d go nuts, I’d go stir crazy … Sure enough after months or a year or whatever it enough after months or a year or whatever it just got too lonely and too boring and I’d go just got too lonely and too boring and I’d go back to that life to find friendship and back to that life to find friendship and someone to talk to and something to do, and someone to talk to and something to do, and sure enough, before I know it I’m in jail again. sure enough, before I know it I’m in jail again. [‘John’][‘John’]

Breaking the cycleBreaking the cycle ‘‘Scott’ was released on parole this time Scott’ was released on parole this time

Somewhere to live Somewhere to live Link Out programLink Out program

Out nine months, longest time everOut nine months, longest time ever Family support, his own placeFamily support, his own place Managing drug use, not robbing Managing drug use, not robbing A sense of responsibility:A sense of responsibility: ‘‘I don’t want to die man and leave me bubbas I don’t want to die man and leave me bubbas

with no uncle’with no uncle’