Effectiveness of Circle Sentencing
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The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research conducted research on Circle Sentencing and found that it does not reduce the risk of re-offending by Aboriginal offenders. The Bureau's report is "Does circle sentencing reduce Aboriginal offending?" by Jacqueline Fitzgerald, Crime and Justice Bulletin (2008) No 115.
Circle sentencing is an alternative method of sentencing Aboriginal offenders which has been used in different areas amongst Aboriginal communities including Nowra, Dubbo, and Kempsey.
The study examined three issues:
- whether Circle Sentencing reduces the frequency of offending
- whether Circle Sentencing increases the time between offences
- whether Circle Sentencing reduces the seriousness of any further offending.
Despite these findings, the Director of the Bureau, Dr Don Weatherburn said Circle Sentencing should be strengthened rather than abandoned and used in conjunction with other programs such as drug and alcohol treatment and cognitive behaviour therapy.
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