Community Corrections Working In Fiji: Report
The Ba pilot community service program in Fiji rolled out in 2007 in which more than 140 offenders were given non-custodial sentences. According to statistics, a non-offending rate of 90 per cent was achieved. Report from the Fiji Times Online.
“That was a massive reduction in the number of prisoners in Ba from 37 to five by Christmas 2007 and that contributed to a 50 per cent reduction in reported crime over the 12 month period,” said Social Welfare director Ilisapeci Rokotunidau.
Confident with the success of Ba, the department progressively introduced the community corrections model in other court areas. Consultations and training have been carried out in Rakiraki, Tavua, Lautoka, Nadi and Sigatoka. The model of community corrections used in Ba has a multi-pronged approach whereby the department formed partnerships with other ministries including youth, employment opportunities, sports, Fijian affairs, health and agriculture that assisted in the provision of supervision and programs.
The department itself restructured to have a senior officer at assistant directors level overseeing the program. An officer was required to attend court each day and assist the court by providing information on the availability of rehabilitation programs in the area, provide advice on the suitability of an offender for probation and recommend special conditions for probation along with regular reports to the court. “A feature of the model is utilising the strength of community participation by having well-trained volunteers who add value to offender programs that cannot be matched by supervision by professional staff alone,” Ms Rokotunidau said.
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