When Solid Steps program opened in the Centre at Casuarina Prison in October 2020 there were some doubts about prisoners’ willingness to take part.
Male prisoners from any facility in the State have the opportunity to volunteer for the program, which is run in a dedicated unit separate from the mainstream population.
Department of Justice Director General Dr Adam Tomison said breaking the cycle of drugs and crime was key in reducing recidivism.
“Of the 75 graduates who have been discharged from custody, only 4 have returned to custody with a new offence,” Dr Tomison said.
“The trauma-informed model of care and practice helps to treat the root cause of addiction and drug related offending.”
Run by the Department in collaboration with service providers Wungening Aboriginal Corporation and Palmerston Association, Solid Steps is based on a culturally safe, modified therapeutic community model.
Commissioner for Corrective Services Mike Reynolds said he was pleasantly surprised by the number of men who had put up their hand to participate.
“As a voluntary program you can never be sure how it is going to be received,” Commissioner Reynolds said.
“I’ve been to a number of graduations now, and it’s fantastic to see how dedicated the prisoners are to their recovery.”
