Women’s Decarceration | RMIT Centre for Innovative Justice

The misidentification of First Nations women as family violence perpetrators   

The CIJ is excited to be working with Djirra, Victoria’s statewide Aboriginal family violence prevention and legal service, on a new, community-led project investigating a highly damaging trend in the justice system.

Evaluation of the Women’s SupPORT Pathways Project

The CIJ’s independent evaluation of the Women’s SupPORT Pathways project, delivered by the Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW), has found evidence of a range of positive impacts from this innovative, gender-based sports program.

Submission to Legal and Social Issues Committee Inquiry into Children Affected by Parental Incarceration

Women in prison are more likely than men to be the primary carer of dependent children or other family members. The increased use of incarceration against women – a global trend – amounts to ‘double punishment’ both for the women, and for the children and fractured families left behind. These children are the growing and largely invisible collateral damage of Victoria’s escalating female imprisonment rate.

Lessons from COVID-19: The use of remand, bail and sentencing for women

As part of our continuing focus on the specific needs of women in the justice system, the CIJ has embarked on a project developed in partnership with the Law and Advocacy Centre for Women, which explores women's experiences of criminal justice contact and legal outcomes since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community SupPORT Pathways

The CIJ is supporting an exciting pilot project led by LACW. Delivered in partnership with the Victorian Amateur Football Association, Community SupPORT Pathways for Women links criminalised women with community football clubs, providing opportunities for employment, volunteering, recreation – and, most importantly, belonging. The CIJ will deliver the embedded participatory evaluation component of the program.

Leaving custody behind: Foundations for safer communities and gender-informed criminal justice systems

This Issues Paper draws together evidence about women’s involvement in the criminal justice system and the factors behind the escalating female imprisonment rate in Victoria. It highlights the disproportionate harm caused by the incarceration of women and the urgent need to find alternatives that better meet human rights standards.

Financial Counselling Practice Guidance: Integrating financial counselling in a legal setting for effective collaborative practice

The CIJ delivered a ground breaking financial counselling service pilot to women in Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.

Feasibility Study – residential facility for Aboriginal women in contact with the criminal justice system

Developing a model and plan for implementation for a residential program for Aboriginal women in Victoria.

Women Transforming Justice

The CIJ is conducting an ongoing evaluation of Women Transforming Justice (WTJ), a collaboration between the Fitzroy Legal Service (incorporating Darebin Community Legal Centre), the Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW) and Flat Out.

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Centre for Innovative Justice

RMIT Building 20 – Former Magistrates’ Court
124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
Wurundjeri Country

Email: cij@rmit.edu.au
Phone: 03 9925 7249

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RMIT University acknowledges the Kulin Nations as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the University stands. The University respectfully recognises Elders both past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of lands across Australia where it conducts its business, their Elders, Ancestors, cultures and heritage.

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