How thinking outside the box can help curb crime

Australia is confronting a significant issue with reincarceration, with a large number of individuals released from prison each year finding themselves back behind bars. Here’s what can help.

When 30,000 Australians told the Flinders Wicked Problems Report what the most pressings issues were in their communities right now, crime and safety was a significant concern.

In South Australia, 27 per cent of respondents identified the feeling of being unsafe in their communities and neighbourhoods as one of their top five concerns.

Other concerns that people raised were youth crime, violent crime, crime related to drugs and alcohol, and rates of imprisonment.   

To foster safer and more resilient communities, a different approach is needed—one that understands the multiple factors driving crime and incarceration. It is important to understand the complex relationship between fear of crime and actual criminal activity, coupled with innovative thinking in crime prevention and supporting the transition of former prisoners into the community to address rates of imprisonment.  

How to stop the revolving prison door

Australia is confronting a significant issue with reincarceration, with around 70,000 individuals released from prison each year finding themselves back behind bars within two years. This troubling cycle is driven by factors such as homelessness, drug dependence, and mental health problems, which are all exacerbated by incarceration in turn.

The economic impact is substantial, with the annual correctional budget currently at $6 billion and expected to surpass $7 billion by 2030. Over the past two decades, the prison population has nearly doubled. A strong link exists between social disadvantage and prison admissions. A disproportionate number of prisoners come from a small number of postcodes, and a high percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are incarcerated. These communities face systemic challenges, including limited access to education, employment, and healthcare and other opportunities, which contribute to higher rates of imprisonment. Addressing these root causes is essential to breaking the cycle of reincarceration.

Flinders University research projects are focusing on understanding the multiple factors that affect people’s lives and drive incarceration. This approach emphasises addressing the underlying issues that contribute to criminal behaviour, rather than simply punishing the behaviour itself.

Reducing the return-to-prison rate by just one per cent could save Australia millions annually and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system. Effective reintegration strategies can lead to improved social outcomes, such as increased employment rates, better mental health, and stronger family and community connections. These positive changes can help break the cycle of disadvantage that often leads to criminal behaviour.

The journey to reducing reincarceration is complex, but with a collaborative and holistic approach, meaningful progress is possible. By investing in the wellbeing of individuals and communities, Australia can build a future where fewer people return to prison, fostering safer and more resilient communities for all.

Keeping young people out of prison 

In a world where many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds end up in trouble with the law, this Flinders University research project is making a big difference. 

Flinders’ Dr. Simone Deegan is working hard to fix unfair laws and sentencing practices that can punish young people for crimes they didn't intend or physically commit. Laws of complicity, such as the doctrine of 'joint enterprise,' can lead to harsh sentences, even life in prison for those on the fringes of violent events. 

“If found guilty, they are punished as harshly as the actual perpetrator, leading to mandatory sentences of life imprisonment,” Dr Deegan says.  

Dr. Deegan wants to bring the best ideas from around the world to Australia. She's exploring programs that ignite and nurture the ambition of the most disconnected young people to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. Her goal is to make communities safer and fairer by teaching the skills and resilience to maintain employment and avoid further criminal activity. 

By tackling the reasons why young people get involved in crime, this research is not just seeking justice – it's giving hope and a second chance. 

Helping people beyond the prison bars 

Leaving prison can be a hugely challenging time for people as they try to readjust back into society. Two Flinders University research projects are trying to make this process much easier for everyone involved.

Short custodial stays have been a big issue for years, especially in regional areas like Port Augusta and Port Lincoln. These short stays, where most people spend less than six months in prison, create challenges for both the individuals and the community. People leaving prison often struggle with finding housing, accessing social and health services, and reintegrating into society.  

To tackle this, a project called Beyond Bars, co-led by Flinders University Professor Ian Goodwin-Smith, Associate Professor Caitlin Hughes, and Professor Mark Halsey, came up with some solutions to address these critical concerns. Flinders researchers suggested creating transitional housing right outside the prison gates, setting up a social services and health hub, and having ‘wayfinding champions’ to help people connect with their community. 

A secondary project, the ‘wayfinding’ app also will support successful prisoner re-entry and reintegration.

The digital tool will connect correction staff and social and health service providers with the aim to better assist individuals with post-prison reintegration – and help stop reoffending. 

The project is a collaboration between the Centre for Social Impact at Flinders University, not-for-profit, industry and community sectors along with Flinders researchers Jenna Mizzi, Dr Melissa de Vel-Palumbo, Mark Ferraretto, Dr Jen Cleary & Dr Simone Deegan.

These steps aim to make the transition smoother and support both the individuals and the community in the long run.  

Dealing with ever-growing crime online 

We’ve all heard the stories, maybe we even know someone, who’s been scammed online and had their personal or business information stolen. Cybercrime is a very real and growing concern as we spend more and more time online. Beyond personal online crime, imagine if hackers could disrupt our city's power and transport systems. Scary, right? To help stop this from happening, researchers at Flinders University have created special test areas to practice defending against these cyberattacks.  

They built a "Smart City" model that connects a big hospital, an electrical substation, backup power, and traffic lights. This helps researchers see how a cyberattack could cause big problems in real life and figure out how to stop it.  

Associate Professor Alireza Jolfaei, an expert in cyber security, says that predicting these attacks and having self-defense systems in place is vital in order to keep our critical infrastructure safe.  

Cybercrime goes even further than this though. Flinders Professor, Rodrigo Praino, Director of the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies focuses on how it affects the way we engage with democracy.  

“Cyber vulnerability in the digital space results in people no longer being able to understand what is true and what is not,” says Professor Praino.  

And even beyond earth, cyber threats are a growing concern, as space exploration becomes more popular. Flinders researchers in the Jeff Bleich Centre are also looking into new space technologies to find and fix problems in space cyber security.  

“So much of our daily lives depends on space assets functioning properly and providing us with a myriad of services. The most likely attack to a space asset is, and always will be, a cyberattack, so defending space from cyber-attacks is essential to keep our society functioning,” says Professor Praino.
 

At Flinders University, we are dedicated to finding solutions to complex challenges with research that matters. In a groundbreaking initiative, we asked 30,000 Australians from across the nation to voice the problems that matter to them the most in their local communities, resulting in The Flinders Wicked Problems Report. Read more here.