The winners of the 2007 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards were announced on 23 October. The annual awards are sponsored by the heads of Australian governments and members of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management - Police (MCPEMP) to recognise outstanding work in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime. The awards encourage public crime reduction initiatives and assist governments in developing practical projects to reduce crime in Australian communities. The 2007 national award category winners were:
- The Caversham Training and Enterprise Centre Program (WA) - This program is a community crime prevention and youth re-engagement initiative giving 'at risk' young people access to education and training. Participants demonstrate risk factors associated with antisocial and criminal behaviour, and do not fit the standard delivery models for education and training. The program uses positive role models in informal surroundings to improve the employability of participants and reduce their risk of reoffending.
- Domestic Violence Intervention Court Model (NSW) - This model provides more timely support to victims and children by tracking victims and children through the criminal justice system and ensuring their needs (whether housing, life skills training or counselling) are met. The model also tracks offenders, reducing the chances of them becoming repeat offenders. Victims', children's and offenders' needs are shared cooperatively between Police, Department of Community Services, NGOs and Department of Corrections, at all phases through the criminal justice system.The model also improves prosecution without increasing the burden on victims, through the use of electronic video evidence. This 'vivid evidence' better displays to the offender, the defence and ultimately the court, the consequences of the crime.
- Supervision Program (WA) - This program works to reduce juvenile offending by targeting those who commit serious and/or repeat offences, or whose severe antisocial behaviour increases their offence risk. In an Australian first, a multi-systemic therapy model is used: sustained behavioural change is achieved by working with the young person, their families and significant others in their environment to give them the skills to cope with family, peer, school and neighbourhood demands. Initial evaluation has shown reductions in the number of days in custody, custody frequency, convicted offences and the severity of offences.
- Camp IMPACT (NSW) - Following the 'Macquarie Fields riots', the relationship between police and the youth of Macquarie Fields had completely fractured. The police initiated a number of programs to build relationships with local young people and reduce crime, including Camp IMPACT. The camp engages young males who had been involved in the riot, or had previously had negative contact with police, and helps them build rapport/trust with police, develop a sense of self-worth, identify risks to their wellbeing and understand what is socially acceptable from a community perspective.