Experts lash ‘unacceptable’ spike in State remand numbers
Experts lash ‘unacceptable’ spike in State remand numbers
A sharp rise in arrests for violent crimes, coupled with the housing crisis, is resulting in record numbers of unsentenced prisoners in WA jails, a situation experts say is unacceptable.
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released last month show in March this year there were 2750 WA prisoners in remand – that is people who have been arrested but have not been granted bail or sentenced by the court. That is a jump from just 2188 a year earlier.
Experts say a jump in arrests relating to domestic violence — up 41 per cent in the last five years — means more people are finding themselves behind bars for crimes the courts will not grant bail for.
But other prisoners are behind bars charged with crimes that don’t even carry terms of imprisonment if convicted.
Professor Hilde Tubex, director of criminology at UWA’s Law School, said the situation was “unacceptable”.
“About 40 per cent of our prison population has never been found guilty. They have not had their day in court, that is just unbelievable, it’s unacceptable.” she said.
“You can’t just keep putting people, innocent people in prison. If you go from the principle that they are innocent until they are found guilty, it’s criminal to do that.”
Prisoner support service Outcare managing director Shane Mauger said the lack of services in remand prisons made it difficult to address the causes of the offending, leading to higher rates of recidivism.
“When you’re in remand, you receive no education, no support,” Mr Mauger said.
“They leave, but the behaviour still exists. The offender, the individual, re-offends and often escalates, leading to that increase in re-offending.”
Mr Mauger said the housing crisis is exacerbating the issue because the courts are unable to grant bail to someone who does not have stable housing.
Criminologist and associate professor at Edith Cowan University Natalie Gately said the community cost of having high numbers of people in remand was greater than many realise.
Source: The Sunday Times.