To develop and sustain a just society through crime prevention

URL:  www.acpc.org.au

In May of 1960 a National Body was formed and known as the Australian Prison Aftercare Council. It was a voluntary association of individuals, departments and organisations representing a wide cross section of interests and disciplines. It included branches of the criminal justice system, courts, police, corrections, prisons, medical health services, criminology, ethnic minority groups and armed services.

In 1967 the Council widened its chapter and changed its name to the Australian Crime Prevention Council, Corrections and Aftercare Council.

In the 1970s funding was received from the Federal and State Governments as well as from private subscriptions and donations. A National Secretariat was established in Queensland and efforts were made to co-ordinate the activities of the Council at the national level as well as in the states and territories where branches were formed. The Council then shortened its name to the Australian Crime Prevention Council.

To assist and promote the work of crime prevention, corrections, and the aftercare of offenders.

To co-ordinate the activities of all persons and bodies interested in such works.

To promote the discussion and publication of matters of interest amongst those concerned with crime prevention, corrections and aftercare.

To develop better public understanding of the problems of crime; to encourage the participation of citizens in the prevention of crime and in the alleviation of social injustices.

To encourage and support the role of the volunteer in relevant fields and assist those who work with juvenile offenders or with disturbed or disadvantaged children.

Some of the challenges and questions facing the Council in The Council has contributed in a constructive fashion in the debate about crime prevention. Over the past five decades it has advocated:

• The setting up of independent parole boards;
• The establishment of the Australian Institute of Criminology;
• The conducting of criminological research;
• The development of community based corrections;
• The implementation of offender rehabilitation programmes;
• The introduction of alternatives to imprisonment;
• The achievement of criminal justice reform;
• The provision of compensation and aid to victims of crime and;
• The development of community based crime prevention.

Some of the challenges and questions facing the Council include how crime prevention initiatives, spoken of in the 1970s, 1980s, and again in the 1990s, are to be funded? What organisational mechanisms can be developed at a National level to ensure a balance between the government and the community? How can the public and private sectors work co-operatively in implementing community safety and crime prevention strategies?

National conferences are held often.

The operational centre and location of the National Executive Committee rotates from state to state and the incumbent state also hosts the biennial conference for that period.

The membership of the National Executive Committee is comprised of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Hon Treasurer, and state and territory representatives.

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