Excellent Symposium held in Tasmania by JusTas titled ‘Reintegration: Throughcare to What? Reducing Crime and Safer Communities’ on 28th November 2016. JusTas is a new group in Tasmania promoting justice, best practice and valuable outcomes for returning citizens and the community. A collaboration between the Salvation Army, University of Tasmania and Australian Red Cross, the Symposium a huge success, attended by many.
It was an honour to be a keynote speaker, many thanks to Keith Hinde, Coordinator Prison Support Program, Australian Red Cross; Grant Herring, Manager of Alcohol, Other Drugs & Corrections, Salvation Army Tasmania Division; and Don McCrae, Team Leader SASH Salvation Army Supported Housing, Street to Home and ITSS Intensive Tenancy Support Service (for Ex-Offenders).
Dinner with JusTas members
Facilitated by Grant Herring, the Symposium was officially opened by Dr. Vanessa Goodwin, MLC, Attorney General and Minister for Corrections. Dr. Goodwin also officially launched the group JusTas. http://justas.org/. On the morning of the Symposium, it was an honour and wonderful opportunity to join Don McCrae in studio on 936 ABC Hobart radio. We were interviewed by Sarah Gillman about JusTas, the Symposium and my Churchill Fellowship keynote address. ICYMI: https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pe2DYbK943?play=true
Claire Seppings 
Claire,
I think there is a very real need to support prisoners in their re-integration. I find it astounding that a prisoners can complete a lengthy sentence in a high security prison and be released into the community either on parole or if they have completed their sentence without parole and any support or control mechanisms in place.
I am advised that in years gone by, only the most violent of prisoners would not be moved to a medium security prison after several years. After some years in medium security they would then complete the remainder of their sentence in a low security prison with some emphasis on re-integration into society.
With thanks.
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Thanks Tom and good points!
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