The NSW Drug Summit in 1999 produced mostly modest outcomes, sidestepping some difficult but important issues. The prospects now for beneficial change should be better with the evidence gathered in the last 25 years – but are they? (more…)
Nicholas Cowdery
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Drug decriminalisation is not (yet) legalisation
The ACT has decriminalised the possession of small quantities of some prohibited drugs. The Liberal Opposition in the ACT says this “radical reform” will lead to more crime in the Territory. It will be “chaos”. The AFP worries that they will be busier. So why is this a move in the right direction that should be followed across the country? (more…)
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Back to first principles on drugs
Just why is it so hard for politicians to see a better way forward in dealing with drugs in the community and to act on that vision? It is not for lack of evidence of what works to make things better and most of the community knows that. (more…)
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If crime is falling, why is imprisonment rising?
The Australian prison population has doubled since 2000 and recidivism is at 55%. Yet almost all categories of crime have fallen in the past decade. Why do we spend $3.6 billion a year (and rising) on a system across Australia that is clearly not serving us well or making us safer? There are alternatives available, as the Justice Reform Initiative [JRI] explains.