Crime down but the system harsher than ever

The latest state-wide crime figures from BOCSAR thankfully show that most crime categories are down. However behind this is a remarkable story of an increase in prison population, more people held in jail awaiting trial and harsher treatment of young people in the justice system.

Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

“The number of young people being dealt with by youth justice conferences is down more than 21%.

“Youth justice conferencing is a holistic and reparative approach to justice, and it’s concerning to see its use declining.


“These no bail Court Attendance Notices are a heavy handed response to the mainly breach of bail conditions, which are contributing significantly to the large increase in prison population.

“There are also sharp increases in the use of no bail court attendance notices which are up 10.7% since Labor and the Coalition’s latest attack on bail laws.

“It is extraordinary that at a time when crime continues to fall, the prison population in NSW is still increasing, and Mike Baird is planning to build new private prisons.
6 December 2016