Justice Reinvestment

What is Justice Reinvestment?

Justice Reinvestment is an approach that supports and funds communities to find local solutions to local problems. It aims to reduce the disproportionately high rates of First Nations adults and young people in contact with the criminal justice system and to address the underlying causes of incarceration and recidivism.

Justice Reinvestment initiatives are: 

• evidence based and data informed; 
• place based;
• community-led;
• economically rational; and 
• First Nations focused.

Expanding Justice Reinvestment to Kempsey and Nowra

On 27 February 2023, the NSW Government announced community consultation to expand Justice Reinvestment in Kempsey and Nowra. The expansion of Justice Reinvestment is part of the NSW Government’s $9.8 million investment over four years, announced in the 2022/23 Budget.

Kempsey and Nowra have been identified as new justice reinvestment sites as both experience significant crime-related issues can support justice reinvestment activities.

Extensive community consultation will occur in Kempsey and Nowra to ensure that Justice Reinvestment initiatives are led by community and supported by Aboriginal service partnerships.

Example of Justice Reinvestment in NSW

The first Justice Reinvestment site in NSW, called Maranguka has been operating in Bourke since it was launched in 2013. Through Maranguka, the community created a local strategy and developed initiatives to achieve positive social outcomes and reduce offending, recidivism, and family violence. 

You can read more about Maranguka on the Maranguka Community Hub website.

Alignment to National Agreement on Closing the Gap 

The NSW Government is committed to working closely and collaboratively with Aboriginal communities to achieve the targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. 

Justice Reinvestment is aligned with the following Closing the Gap Targets:

• Target 10: that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system, with a target to reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults held in incarceration by at least 15 per cent by 2031. 
• Target 11: that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system which, with a target to reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in detention by 30 per cent. 
• Target 13: to reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family violence and abuse against women and children by at least 50%, as progress towards zero.

Further information

If you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Please email at justicereinvestment@justice.nsw.gov.au

More information about existing Justice Reinvestment initiatives

• Commonwealth announcement and funding