Publications

	TOPIC:	DECARCERATION
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Oct-Dec 2021	The prison spiral	This article provides an overview of factors contributing to the downward spiral towards prison that is disproportionately affecting disadvantaged sections of the Australian population. It discusses the present penal pandemonium in Australia as well as a number of feasible avenues for prison reform.
Jan-Mar 2022	Sustaining crime	This editorial briefly mentions 10 ways in which we can encourage people to remain criminals. This is tongue-in-cheek, of course, but the principles involved are uncomfortably close to the truth.
Apr-Jun 2023	Reform or abolish?	This brief article describes the emerging debate as to whether we should reform or abolish prisons. Australian Prison Reform Journal's position is for the middle course of doing both.
Jan-Mar 2024	Great resources	Ten excellent resources for Australian prison reform and decarceration.
	Coming soon: Decarceration	Incarceration is hugely expensive and yet the effects of imprisonment are on the whole negative. Emptying the prisons of as many non-dangerous inmates as possible makes economic sense and actually increases opportunities for reform, reconciliation and restitution.
	TOPIC:	EX-PRISONER REINTEGRATION
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Jan-Mar 2022	Sustaining crime	This editorial briefly mentions 10 ways in which we can encourage people to remain criminals. This is tongue-in-cheek, of course, but the principles involved are uncomfortably close to the truth.
Jan-Mar 2024	Little boxes	Rather than preserving the fabric of society, discrimination against prisoners/ex-prisoners in employment, voting and/or political representation actually damages it.
Jan-Mar 2024	News - February 2024	News articles with the theme of strong post-release support as a means to reducing recidivism.
Apr-Jun 2024	Life expectancy	A quick review of studies examining the effect of incarceration on life expectancy.
Oct-Dec 2024	JRI discussion papers	Justice Reform Initiative discussion papers for comment & endorsement by organizations in Australia.
Oct-Dec 2024	Mandatory national ID	This article examines the likely effects on prisoners should the national Digital ID become mandatory.
	TOPIC:	ENVIRONMENT
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Oct-Dec 2022	ANZSOC PowerPoint	PowerPoint for presentation on 'Imprisonment for and as environmental crime' at the ANZSOC Conference held in Darwin on 28 November 2022.
Jan-Mar 2025	ARRCS PowerPoint	PowerPoint for presentation on 'Prisons as environmental crime' at the Advancing Rural & Regional Culture & Society conference, held at the Waurn Ponds Estate, Deakin University on 17 June 2025.
	TOPIC:	FACILITIES
Date	Title	Summary	Link
	Coming soon: Facilities for prisoners	This article discusses the effects of more facilities compared with minimal facilities.
	TOPIC:	HEALTH
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Jul-Sep 2021	Health in prisons	More doctors and nurses in prisons would improve prisoner health, make prisons safer; and save money as medical conditions are better controlled and hospital visits avoided. There would also be a significant reduction in suicide and deaths in custody generally.
Jul-Sep 2021	Six health reforms	This article briefly examines six innovative justice solutions in the area of prisoner health.
Jul-Sep 2022	Mental health & police	This historical report focuses on selected reforms involving people with mental health issues and the impact of these reforms on police and policing.
Jul-Sep 2022	Excited delirium	Excited Delirium Syndrome (ExDS) is a controversial diagnosis. This article examines whether the spread of ExDS to Australia is of assistance in policing people with these symptoms.
Apr-Jun 2023	VPCC PowerPoint	PowerPoint for presentation on 'Relationship between health and deaths in custody' at the Victorian Postgraduate Criminology Conference held at Melbourne University on 04 November 2022.
Jul-Sep 2023	Health in jurisdictions	Levels of prisoner health in Australian jurisdictions are compared based on coronial data and general health statistics. The findings based on the study of deaths in custody in each jurisdiction are also summarised.
Jul-Sep 2023	Coronial reforms	As part of a study of the relationship between prisoner health and deaths in custody, 114 coronial inquests were examined. The most common reforms recommended by coroners are summarized in this article.
Jul-Sep 2023	Disability training	A general checklist is suggested for beneficial disability-related training for those within law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and court administration.
Oct-Dec 2023	ANZSOC 2023 PPT No1	PowerPoint for presentation on 'Relationship between health and deaths in custody' at the ANZSOC Conference held in Melbourne on 07 December 2023.
Apr-Jun 2024	Life expectancy	A quick review of studies examining the effect of incarceration on life expectancy.
Jul-Sep 2024	UK prison reformers	Part 1 (UK prison reformers) in a general tribute to those who improved the lot of prisoners.
Jul-Sep 2024	US prison reformers	Part 2 (US prison reformers) in a general tribute to those who improved the lot of prisoners.
Jul-Sep 2024	AU prison reformers	Part 3 (Australian prison reformers) in a general tribute to those who improved the lot of prisoners.
	TOPIC:	HISTORY
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Jul-Sep 2022	Mental health & police	This historical report focuses on selected reforms involving people with mental health issues and the impact of these reforms on police and policing.
Jul-Sep 2024	UK prison reformers	Part 1 (UK prison reformers) in a general tribute to those who improved the lot of prisoners.
Jul-Sep 2024	US prison reformers	Part 2 (US prison reformers) in a general tribute to those who improved the lot of prisoners.
Jul-Sep 2024	AU prison reformers	Part 3 (Australian prison reformers) in a general tribute to those who improved the lot of prisoners.
Apr-Jun 2025	The past 6 months	A recap on some criminology-related events from the first six months of 2025, with the theme of 'knee-jerk reactions.'
	TOPIC:	INDIGENOUS ISSUES
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Apr-Jun 2021	First Issue of APRJ	It is appropriate that the first issue of the Australian Prison Reform Journal falls on the 15th of April 2021, exactly 30 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody delivered its findings. In this period, at least 475 Indigenous people in custody died.
Apr-Jun 2021	Indigenous deaths	30 years later, and Australia still has a long way to go in reducing Indigenous, as well as non-Indigenous, deaths in custody. This article will be a continuing project through 2022 and will involve a survey of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody from 1991 to 2021.
Apr-Jun 2021	Indigenous incarceration	The main reason for the large number of Aboriginal deaths in custody is the extremely high incarceration rate of Indigenous people.
Apr-Jun 2024	Life expectancy	A quick review of studies examining the effect of incarceration on life expectancy.
	Coming soon: Reports on black deaths	Online articles tend to be removed over time, so this article has collected, where possible, at least one article discussing the death of each Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who died in custody in the 30 years between 1991 and 2021.
	Coming soon: Analysis of black deaths	This article summarises the detailed facts and findings related to each Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander death in custody in the past 10 years from mid-2011 to mid-2021.
	Coming soon: Details of black deaths	This article summarises the detailed facts and findings related to each Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander death in custody in the in the past 10 years from mid-2011.
	TOPIC:	JUSTICE REINVESTMENT
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Apr-Jun 2023	Improve or reinvest?	This article is about whether we should invest in new/improved prisons or engage in justice reinvestment with a view to diverting people from prison and reinvesting the savings in initiatives that keep people from entering/returning to prison.
Oct-Dec 2023	ANZSOC 2023 PPT No2	PowerPoint for presentation on 'Applied economic analysis for justice reinvestment in Australia' at the ANZSOC Conference held in Melbourne on 07 December 2023.
Oct-Dec 2023	JIRAD concept map	Research concept map: 'Applied economic analysis for justice investment, reinvestment and diversion in Australia.'
Oct-Dec 2024	JRI discussion papers	Justice Reform Initiative discussion papers for comment & endorsement by organizations in Australia.
Jan-Mar 2025	FED party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties were sought prior to the 2025 federal election.
Jan-Mar 2025	TAS party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties were sought prior to the possible 2025 early Tasmanian election.
Apr-Jun 2025	NSW party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties in NSW were sought.
Apr-Jun 2025	QLD party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties in QLD were sought.
Jul-Sep 2025	NT party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties in the NT were sought.
Oct-Dec 2025	ACT party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties in the ACT were sought.
Oct-Dec 2025	VIC party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties in VIC were sought.
Oct-Dec 2025	WA party policies on JR	The JR policies of the three major parties in WA were sought.
	TOPIC:	LAW ENFORCEMENT (POLICE, CORRECTIONS, COURTS)
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Oct-Dec 2024	JRI discussion papers	Justice Reform Initiative discussion papers for comment & endorsement by organizations in Australia.
Oct-Dec 2024	Mandatory national ID	This article examines the likely effects on prisoners should the national Digital ID become mandatory.
	TOPIC:	NEWS
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Jul-Sep 2021	News - July 2021	NAIDOC Week; Launch of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicines Committee; Reoffending among child sexual offenders; and Launch of the CIJ’s ‘Leaving custody behind.’
Jan-Mar 2022	News - February 2022	Future Justice and Corrections Summit; thousands of Indigenous children living in out-of-home care; Justice Reinvestment Seminar.
Jul-Sep 2022	News - July 2022	NAIDOC Week; What's on during NAIDOC Week; Recent articles by three journalists who genuinely care about prisoners; 2021 census initial results are in.
Oct-Dec 2022	Rally on 14 October 2022	A justice reinvestment rally, march and street art will kick off at 4pm  on Friday 14 October 2022, meeting on the steps of  the Victorian Parliament House.
Oct-Dec 2022	News - October 2022	New operator for Nauru; Australia obstructs UN inspectors; corrective officer on manslaughter charges; judge warns WA re children in adult prison.
Jan-Mar 2024	News - February 2024	News articles with the theme of strong post-release support as a means to reducing recidivism.
Apr-Jun 2024	News - May 2024	The latest news, with the general theme of 'police training.'
Apr-Jun 2024	Reconciliation Week	National Reconciliation Week takes place on 27 May to 3 June every year.
Oct-Dec 2024	News - October 2024	The latest news about private prisons and Unit 18 comments.
Apr-Jun 2025	The past 6 months	A recap on some criminology-related events from the first six months of 2025, with the theme of 'knee-jerk reactions.' Stories include the closing of Junee CC, Victoria's tightened bail laws, the machete ban in Victoria, the explosive-laden caravan, the latest stats on men's health, 33 years since Mabo, Jess Hill's Losing It, why Monique Ryan opposed mandatory sentencing, NACCHO's National Yarning Circle, and AHRC's call for reform.
Jul-Sep 2025	It's NAIDOC Week 2025!	All about NAIDOC Week and how to celebrate it.
Jul-Sep 2025	News - July 2025	Latest news about the Yoorrook report and coroner reports.
	TOPIC:	POLICYMAKING
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Jan-Mar 2022	Policies under pressure	Nothing is straightforward when it comes to the gathering and analysis of criminological evidence for policymaking. This is particularly so with the question of whether coercive control should be criminalised.
Jan-Mar 2022	Sustaining crime	This editorial briefly mentions 10 ways in which we can encourage people to remain criminals. This is tongue-in-cheek, of course, but the principles involved are uncomfortably close to the truth.
Apr-Jun 2022	Expanded powers-1	ARTICLE: The Australian Government has committed to far-reaching reforms of its electronic surveillance legal framework. This article focuses on a recommendation that the power of corrective services be expanded to access telecommunications data.
Apr-Jun 2022	Expanded powers-2	TRANSCRIPT: For the 11-minute video on the proposed expansion of powers for corrective services agencies allowing them to access telecommunications data (refer to Volume 2, Issue 2, Article 3). For the full article, refer to Volume 2, Issue 2, Article 1.
Apr-Jun 2022	Expanded powers-3	VIDEO: On the proposed expansion of powers for corrective services agencies allowing them to access telecommunications data.
Oct-Dec 2024	JRI discussion papers	Justice Reform Initiative discussion papers for comment & endorsement by organizations in Australia.
Oct-Dec 2024	Mandatory national ID	This article examines the likely effects on prisoners should the national Digital ID become mandatory.
Apr-Jun 2025	The past 6 months	A recap on some criminology-related events from the first six months of 2025, with the theme of 'knee-jerk reactions.' Stories include the closing of Junee CC, Victoria's tightened bail laws, the machete ban in Victoria, the explosive-laden caravan, the latest stats on men's health, 33 years since Mabo, Jess Hill's Losing It, why Monique Ryan opposed mandatory sentencing, NACCHO's National Yarning Circle, and AHRC's call for reform.
	TOPIC:	STATISTICS
Date	Title	Summary	Link
Oct-Dec 2021	Statistics Bulletin No.1	APRJ shall release regular statistical bulletins relating to Australian prisons and prisoners. This first bulletin contains very general statistics (mostly as at the end of Sept 2021) to lay the groundwork.
Oct-Dec 2021	Statistics Bulletin No.2	The focus for the second set of statistics shifts to the truly alarming figures for Indigenous imprisonment. The statistics (mostly as at the end of Sept 2021) indicate that the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners is widening rather than closing.
Jan-Mar 2023	Statistics Bulletin No.3	The following statistics (in three parts) are part of an upcoming investigation into the relationship between prisoner health and deaths in custody.
Jan-Mar 2023	Statistics Bulletin No.4	The focus for the second set of statistics in this series is the number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous deaths in custody, with data for each Australian State and Territory.
Jan-Mar 2023	Statistics Bulletin No.5	The focus for the third set of statistics in this series is upon the Indigenous and non-Indigenous prison populations in each Australian State and Territory.
Oct-Dec 2025	Coming soon: Statistics Bulletin No.6	The focus is upon the steadily increasing Australian incarceration rate.