SISTERS INSIDE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES COURT DIVERSION
PROGRAM
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Sisters Inside workers and the Special Circumstance Court
(SCCrt) Program have turned my life around. I am now high on life !
I can now see the moon and the stars.
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THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES COURT Aims to work with people to
address the underlying causes of their criminal behaviour.
Sentencing options include intensive support around dealing with
the issues contributing to the offending. Avoids giving fines.
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PROGRAM OVERVIEW 1 Full Time & 1 Part-time Staff Committed
to providing customised service to each woman Approx. 250
participants over the past 3 years Every Wednesday, Thursday &
Friday
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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES o Walk alongside the women o Provide
support and bridging resources o To increase access and assist them
to achieve whatever needs are important to them o Ongoing support
to feel & be safe and supported o To introduce women to
specific services o To introduce and encourage participation in
other SIS programs
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UNIQUE FEATURES Opportunistic Unstructured Own pace, Own time
Highly intensive
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PRACTICES UNDERPINNING PROGRAM TRUST RESPECT &
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Respect Women as Equal __________________________ Respect Women
as experts in their own life __________________________ Respect
Womens decisions about their own needs __________________________
Respect Womens context and culture __________________________
Respect Womens space PRACTICES UNDERPINNING PROGRAM
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All decisions are driven by the woman Authentic Consistent
Truthful Admit to mistakes Step out of comfort zone Never breach
confidentiality Never reject a woman PRACTICES UNDERPINNING
PROGRAM
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How do they become involved in Special Circumstances
Court?
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If it wasnt for the Special Circumstances Court & you (SIS
worker) I would be dead SUCCESSES
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Achieve Reward The court focuses on addressing the causes of
criminalisati on. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR #1 Change Support
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As one magistrate said I sometimes see people who have finished
their sentence standing at the back of the court and I think Oh no
But they have just come in to say hello. One lady who was
re-engaging with study after 30 years was having trouble with her
homework.so she came in to court looking for help and we were able
to get together and sort something out. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR
#1
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The Sisters Program is the GLUE in the relationship between
women and the Court. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR #2
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The Sisters Inside Inclusive Support Model contributes towards
a woman achieving her set goals. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR #3 I CANT
I CAN I WILL I DID!
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RECIDIVISM 4% of participants were imprisoned for new offences
1 for hospital treatment 3 asked to go back to prison 2 imprisoned
due to pre- existing charges outside the SCCrt.
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FISCAL BENEFITS Average prison cost = $10,818 per woman SIS
SCCrt over three years = $1,875
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BARRIERS TO OPTIMUM SERVICE DELIVERY Unreasonable expectations
by key service providers Lack of essential services
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BARRIERS TO OPTIMUM SERVICE DELIVERY It is when these
fundamental human rights are met, that women will feel free to move
forward with their lives!
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CONCLUSION Imprisonment does harm to women and children
Imprisonment compounds problems already faced and puts additional
demands on other essentials to life Paying attention HAS TO BE more
effective and efficient It is an investment in crime
prevention