Introduction

6. There is evidence that a marked reduction in inmate numbers can be achieved over time by 'decarceration' - which involves shortening the list of crimes for which imprisonment is an option, and shortening sentences - without an increase in criminal offending.

7. However, successful use of decarceration requires long-term adherence to a political accord that prevents populist appeal using the 'fear of crime' theme, and public understanding that reducing imprisonment does not necessarily increase crime. The report concludes that decarceration is not a major option in New Zealand at the present time.

8. This report introduces 10 options for reducing imprisonment by reducing serious victimisation. Eight of these approaches have the advantage over decarceration that they also improve public safely. The 10 options are introduced under three headings:
   • Prevention, which involves the introduction of a planned and integrated range of barriers to progress from disadvantaged childhood to serious adult offending.

   • Alternative sentencing, for selected teenage offenders to provide for intensive rehabilitation featuring job placement as a way of reducing progress to recidivist adult offending.

   • Rehabilitation of established adult offenders, so as to improve their prospects of staying out of prison.

INTERVENTION NUMBER	PAGE NUMBER IN REPORT	NATURE OF INTERVENTION	TARGET GROUP	EXPECTED OUTCOMES
1	Prevention section p29	Counselling services for high-risk young women	Young women in the youth justice, adult justice, and child protection systems	Fewer children born to high-risk mothers in adverse circumstances Reduced demand for child protection services and justice services
2	Prevention section p30	Further investment in Family Start support for high-risk births subject to positive evaluation	Babies and their mothers and families	Improved early parenting and family circumstances for high-risk families Improve adult outcomes for disadvantaged children
3	Prevention section p31	Screen selected new entrants and treat conduct disorder at school entry	Conduct disordered five-year-olds	Reduce early school failure; limit onset of problem behaviours and progress to youth and adult offending Improve school performance and general life prospects
4	Prevention section p32	Risk assessment and rehabilitative services for selected early offenders	High-risk youth offenders aged of 10-13 years	Reduce progress of high-risk youth offenders to adult crime Improve educational outcomes and employment prospects
5	Alternative sentencing section p36	Intensive rehabilitation and job placement for selected teenage offenders	Highest risk teenage offenders at first adult offence (for whom prison is not a likely outcome)	Prevent further offending by youth at risk of entry to adult cycle of re-offending (15% to 25% success rate)
6	Alternative sentencing section p39	Intensive rehabilitation and job placement for selected teenage offenders	Highest risk teenage offenders at first adult offence (for whom prison is a likely outcome)	Prevent further offending by youth at risk of entry to adult cycle of re-offending (15% to 25% success rate) Reduce Maori over-representation in prisons
7	Rehabilitation section p48	MODS driver rehabilitation programme for offenders in adult justice system	Repeat disqualified drivers heading for imprisonment	Reduce incidence of disqualified driving leading to imprisonment Reduce general offending
8	Rehabilitation section p51	Drug and alcohol rehabilitation	High-risk adult offenders with drug or alcohol problems	Reduced adult re-offending and re-imprisonment Reduced serious violent offending Reduce Maori over-representation in prisons
9	Reducing the imprisonment of Maori p56	Outcome evaluations of all Maori programmes	Existing interventions for Maori	Identify 'best practice' - improve rehabilitative programmes for Maori offenders
10	Reducing the imprisonment of Maori p56	Education programmes for Maori programme providers	Existing and potential Maori programme developers and providers	Increased number of programme places in tikanga Maori rehabilitation Reduce Maori over-representation in prisons