I enjoyed all the components of our visit to the Victorian
Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (VACRO). The section I
found most interesting was the Link Out program, where male prisoners who are
about to leave custody can receive assistance in a variety of areas. The
rationale for this program is that by providing sufficient support for people
who have been completely removed from society, they will be better equipped for
life outside prison and therefore less likely to re-offend.
One area of Link Out that is particularly interesting is the
requirements for eligibility. Prisoners must have “multiple and complex” needs,
which may restrict the participants of the program. However, these requirements
are practical as Link Out offer a range of services, whereas if a prisoner only
requires the services of one area, a more specialised organisation can attend
to those needs. Prisoners are either refer themselves or be referred by prison
staff for the program. Corrections officers will then determine their
eligibility based on their needs and they can receive pre-release support from
Link Out for one, three or six months, and post-release support for four, eight
or 12 months.
The services offered by Link Out include family
re-unification, general health care, assistance with legal issues, help with
drug and alcohol problems and support in finding housing and employment. The
Link Out program is one of the many run by VACRO, and is an integral component
of offender reintegration.
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