Corrective Services

Community corrections officers release diaries

Community Corrections Officers (CCOs) are the indispensable link between offenders and their chance to live within the community,
either after or instead of time in prison, and require better resources, CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary Karen Batt said at the launch in
Melbourne.
Rev. Tim Costello launched the union's 'Work Diaries Project' at Argyle Square outside the Carlton Community Corrections [CORE] Office.

Karen Batt said, "under a variety of court orders, offenders are obliged to maintain contact with CCOs on a regular basis".

"Community Correction Officers are on the front line; their influence can be the difference between a productive life in the community or repeated offences and ultimately custodial sentences."

"By working with their case officers to achieve socially responsible behaviour, offenders gain better lives. And we all gain safer communities," she said.

Ms Batt said, "throughout Australia, Community Corrections Officers work to improve the chances for offenders to reintegrate into communities. "Their work reduces the impact of crime by giving offenders the opportunity to stop offending," she said.

As part of CPSU's campaign to gain better support for the challenges facing our members in Community Corrections, the union invited CCOs nationwide to participate in the 'Work Diaries
Project'.

Karen Batt said, "what our diarists did NOT do was complain about pay or conditions or fears for safety."

"What they did do was to express their concerns that increasing workloads meant they were unable to do the job properly for the greater benefit of the client offenders."

"Rather than being able to focus on counselling, mentoring and supporting clients, most CCOs spend their time fulfilling the statutory requirements of the reporting processes - paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork," she said.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/campaigns/corr_services/20031007_164.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005