You've Already Had Your Turn Kim ...

and what we have in 'corrections' is essentially your legacy, Kim. Quite simply what has evolved has not worked and cannot.

'Punishment' has been confused with rehabilitation to the extent that prison can only questionably be seen as a 'punishment.' If punishment is defined as an event that reduces the occurrence of a behaviour, then it is most definitely not a punishment .... if an incarcerated one is to 'keep one's nose clean ("yes boss," and do it),' then there is access to so much: education; sports; weight training; exercise programmes; painting; carving; 'therapy' groups; life-skills training; social skills training; anger management; alcohol counselling; religous instruction; individual counselling; films; personal tv, radio, music; the ability to make a drink pretty much when wanted; often recreational drugs and pornography (or approximations to); pretty much unfettered use of the telephone; regular visits; regular and nutritious meals and the ability to make complaint about anything and mostly have it addressed very seriously.
So once in prison a new lifestyle is quickly established - an emotional reaction to incarceration is increasingly a rarity. A more likely scenario is, " Ah bro', good to see you ... what you in for this time bro'." So no contrast between what was and what is now (e.g. Millionaire prisoner involved in drug ring), hence ... "What we do know is that sending them to prison rather than home detention will increase the likelihood of reoffending."

Mr Workman said at present, 31 per cent of people on home detention were reconvicted within two years of completing their sentence, compared with 57 per cent of people released from prison.
This may of course indicate that selection of those for home detention does,to an extent, comprise those less likely to reoffend.

"The latest research indicates that residential alcohol and drug treatment in the community reduces reoffending by up to 43 per cent, while treatment in prison reduces reoffending by between 13 per cent and 30 per cent," he said.
Again this says nothing more than that the selection process is marginally effective. The difference is not what is involved in the 'residential alcohol and drug treatment' packages.

But Kim Workman, director of the Rethinking Crime and Punishment project, said today that criminal justice professionals were becoming increasingly concerned that justice policy was being pushed through the legislative process in the absence of evidence-based research, good information, and adequate consultation.

'Evidence-based,' the new catch phrase.

Character Test, definitely worth the read.

This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally.The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have to make a decision. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly ~ line by line and give due consideration to each line.

THE SITUATION:
You are in New Zealand, Auckland to be specific.
There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding.This is a flood of biblical proportions.
You are a photo-journalist working for a major newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster.
The situation is nearly hopeless.

You're trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing into the water. Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury.

THE TEST:
Suddenly, you see a woman in the water. She is fighting for her life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. You move closer... Somehow, the woman looks familiar...You suddenly realize who it is... It's Helen Clark! You notice that the raging waters are about to take her under forever.
You have two options:
1) You can save the life of Helen Clark or
2) You can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death of the country's most powerful woman!

THE QUESTION:
Here's the question, and please give an honest answer ... Would you select high contrast colour film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?