Source: (1999) Richmond, Victoria, Australia: Jesuit Social Services. Downloaded 9 June 2004.
David Murray begins by expressing concern at the increase in the prison population in Australia in recent years. Young people in particular -between 18 and 24 years of age- have the highest rate of imprisonment, often related to drug offenses. In his perspective, imprisonment is not effective in reducing crime, and it presents significant health risks to inmates and the broader community. Therefore, argues Murray, there is a clear need to divert young people from the prison system. To make his argument, Murray identifies principles of programs that succeed in rehabilitating offenders, and he highlights the work of the Brosnan Centre, a treatment and rehabilitation facility run by Jesuit Social Services, as reflective of some of those principles.
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