CREATING RESTORATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS
WITHIN A CUSTODIAL SETTING:ESTABLISHING A TEM PLATE
FOR THE FUTURE
Dr. Brian Steels

I. INTRODUCTION
This research remains in its embryonic stage as it attempts to produce a universal template fordesigning and implementing a wholly restorative justice and environmentally sustainable prison
regime, shaped by restorative values and sustainable practices. The project will raise awarenessthrough sustainable educational and transformational programmes, transforming the culture amongresidents,workers and visitors throughout the penal estate. These interconnected and interdependent
values and practices remain mostlyunexplored,suggesting a need for an increase in scientific literatureacross disciplines, communities and borders. Expected outcomes include a greater understanding of
responsibility taking,procedural fairness and harm reduction within a sustainable prison ― restoring
prisoners, their environment and communities.
Human activity has brought harm to other human beings, different species as well as the planet.
The project engages participants at the forefront of restoration of all harm done to people, place
and planet.1
There are many articles that examine restorative processes in prisons,restorative justice used forenvironmental crimes and environmental issues being explored in a prison setting. There are low
security work camps and prison farms that practice sustainability and there is a very good example ofsustainability within Tihar Jail,New Delhi,India,where food security and healthy living are practiced
in terms of ecological sustainability. However there are no papers,seminars or books that explore thedevelopment of a fully environmentally sustainable secure prison that combines harm reduction withrestorative justice practice and philosophy. The authors believe that these go hand in hand as
sustaining harmony and peaceful community living helps to reduce crime and fractured relationships.
Further,reducing the carbon footprint can be viewed as taking responsibilityfor the environment,oneʼsfamily and the community and enhancing awareness and concern for others, in this way leading toreflections on the self and the selfʼs impact on others.
This project has begun to examine the current structure and the capacity of Acacia Prison andWandoo Reintegration Unit in Western Australia to respond to criminal activity and environmental
sustainability through diverse needs with unique responses, including sustainable programs and environment. The project is situated within Curtin University, with support from Curtin University
Sustainability Policy Institute(CUSP)the Australian Sustainable Development Institute and the Officeof Research and Development. It is coordinated across schools so as to initiate related projects throughassociated networks and partnerships. The project relies upon a multi-disciplinary and culturally
aware team to record the processes of organizational change necessary to adapt a punitive prison
regime into a therapeutic and environmentallysustainable estate,built upon the foundations and valuesof restorative justice and sustainability.
The projectʼs uniqueness will inform and design the Universal Template2 that will assist otherjurisdictions to replicate these practices within their own estates, cognizant of their difference andcultural diversity. As such the project will aim for the positive transformation of offenders,reparation
Paper co-authored between Dr. Brian Steels and Dr. Dot Goulding, Senior Research Fellows, Curtin University andDirectors of the Asia Pacific Forum for Restorative Justice (Patron. Prof. John Braithwaite).
1Steels. B., Presentation, Asian Criminological Society, M umbai 2013.

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to people and communities harmed by crime and environmentally sustainable practices that reduce theimpact of the prison in terms of its carbon footprint and impact upon its local environment. The
template will be informed by evidence gathered through action-based and participatory research andshould be useful as a tool to answer questions relating to design, implementation, process and outcomes. An interdisciplinary team as well as the voices of those held in custody and the people
responsible for their safety and security will inform the template. It will record progress withsustainable, rehabilitative and restorative practices, seeking data from people harmed by crime;
families of offenders and victims of crime. The template will therefore be informed by measuring
restorative and environmentally sustainable practices and the levels desired and expected by management, residents and community.

II. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
Underpinning the projectʼs restorative values will be Braithwaiteʼs standards that assist withevaluating degrees of restorativeness. Restorative Justice is defined by Cormier3 as:
An approach to justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by crime while holding theoffender responsible for his or her actions, by providing an opportunity for the parties directly
affected by a crime ― victim［s］,offender and community― to identify and address their needsin the aftermath of a crime,and seek a resolution that affords healing,reparation and reintegration, and prevents future harm.
The conceptual framework for the wholly restorative justice sector of the project cites practitioners
and academics4 all of whom have provided insights into the work done by prison authorities tointroduce limited restorative practices into several prisons in England,Wales and Scotland. However,restorative practices within prisons are a relatively recent phenomenon and since 2000 the entire
Belgian prison system has undergone substantial cultural change to a system based on restorative
principles.5 Restorative justice counsellors were employed in all thirty Belgian prisons in order tooversee the establishment of restorative practices to all aspects of the prison regime.6 However,according to Aertsen,7 specialist restorative justice trainers and practitioners have been absorbed into
senior management positions leaving a doubt as to the sustainability of the Belgian restorative
practices. The values and practices underpinning the research project will counter regimes thatmaintain a continuum of punitive policies. However, sustainability is key if the programs are to beeffective within the ever-changing prisoner and staff populations and their dynamic human relationships flowing through the prisonʼs environment. In addition to the restorative prison projects,therapeutic communities have been established in several prisons in England and Wales. HMP Grendon,
housing around 200 high security prisoners, is undoubtedly the best known of these. Liebmann8 notesthat within HMP Grendon:“The programme is based on therapeutic community principles, where a
dedicated multidisciplinary team of staff works together with prisoners, in an atmosphere whereattitudes and expressions that would not normally be tolerated in prison are accepted and used to give
feedback to prisoners.”
The innovative restorative regimes will be based on the concept of re-integrative rather thanstigmatic shaming, essentially shaming the act rather than the actor whilst providing a values andskill-set to enhance day to day relationships with others as well as the personal and shared environment. Thus,sustainable restorative justice could be said to be a process that involves active participation of all people;those harmed by crime;those who can learn to take responsibility for the harm they
2This Universal Template is expected to become part of international guidelines and standards for developing andmaintaining restorative and environmentally sustainable practices within prisons. It may have usefulness for otherinstitutions, organisations and small communities as they attempt to build harmonious relationships between diverse
people, places and the natural environment.
3Cormier 2002.
4Newell 2001;Stern 2005;Coyle 2001 and Liebmann 2007.
5Aertsen, Daems & Roberts:2006.
6Newell 2001.
7Discussions with Aertsen held at Katholieke Universitiet Leuven in 2012.
8Liebmann 2007:247.

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have caused;and those who can provide support. This enables direct and indirect reparation andrestitution to both primary and secondary victims and a real commitment to personal reflection andtransformation. In an innovative move, all residents and workers in the custodial settings will learn
about and practice restorative justice and will be in part responsible to assist with facilitating
encounters and teaching theoretical constructs. In this way participants will learn about restorative
processes and outcomes,be encouraged to teach others and provide a set of skills to others,both insideand outside of prison. Residents will be encouraged to apply for paid positions within the prison as
assistants, consultants and practitioners and be an integral part of the research team. This fits with
Curtin Universityʼs mission9 “to change minds,lives and the world through leadership,innovation and
excellence in teaching and research”.
Research10 suggests that prisons do not reduce criminal activity but, conversely, are themselves
criminogenic in nature. Australia-wide, recidivism rates remain consistently high and rehabilitation
programs, where they exist, have limited success rates and are frequently unsustained by economic
policies. Currently,the few restorative justice programs that do occur in Australian prisons are ad hoc
and dependent on the passion of individual managers and staff, as well as their community based
voluntary organisations and hence they become unsustainable. The restorative prison setting,according to Coyle11 would “present prisoners with a series of duties,challenges and learning opportunities”.
A key factor in a restorative prison is an environment of safety and positive values for prisoners andprison staff. There is no doubt that manyobstacles have to be overcome in the cultural change towards
restorative practices. Newell12 contends that the tension between restorative processes and traditional
prison modes are still troublesome,maintaining that “restorative justice requires respect,the assumingof responsibility and the freedom to solve problems by those involved in the conflict”. The challenge
goes to the Curtin team to create fair, just and sustainable processes with positive and sustainablevalues. To date,environmental sustainability plans and activities remain unrewarded by risk adverse
governance. Monitors fail to ensure the sustainability of quality rehabilitative programs,as noted byWestern Australiaʼ
s PrisonersʼRelease Board13,“A further area of concern is the limited provision ofrehabilitation and training programmes for prisoners and parolees”. This limited provision requires
further investigation as it hampers participants throughout the estate as well as victims and community
members;thus placing safety and rehabilitation in isolation to security needs. This study will engage
all aspects of rehabilitation as the residentʼ
s progress from convict to citizen.
Restorative encounters held with offenders to discuss their release and rehabilitation plans are
ideally held among friends and family. Using Sykes and M atzaʼ
s14 neutralization theory during theseencounters,facilitators are able to challenge a denial ofresponsibility,denial ofinjury,denial ofvictim,
condemnation of the condemners and note an appeal to higher loyalties. If not exposed,these notions
will continue to deflect blame onto others rather than allow a space for offenders to take responsibility
for their actions. This is crucial to the project for as the Youth Justice Board15 has identified,young
offenders with strong family ties are six times less likely to re-offend. Furthermore, research16
indicates that family support helps offenders to reintegrate into communities and avoid criminal
behaviour. This research will explore family encounters17 that include the notion of re-integrative
shaming.18 These encounters enable the focal person to reflect on their relationship with their family
and the harm brought to the family by harming other people. This study will explore if a genuine
concern for others can be enhanced through engagement and concern for a positive, sustainable
environment;one that leads to positive community engagement.

9 M ission;Strategic Plan 20132017.
10 Carlen 1994, 2002;Pratt 1997;Steels 2006;Stern 1998:11;Goulding 2007:4.
11 Coyle 2001.
12 Newell 2001.
13 Prisoners Review Board Annual Report 2012:6.

http://www.prisonersreviewboard.wa.gov.au/ files/PRB Annual Report 2012.pdf>.
14 Sykes and Matzaʼs (1957:664-670).
15 Youth Justice Board, UK 2003:07.
16 Stockdale 2008;Renshaw 2007.
17 Steels and Goulding call these encounters ʻ
the first circleʼ
.
18 Braithwaite 1999.

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III. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
It is becoming increasingly clear that community engagement and support is crucial to gaining
environmental outcomes. The active engagement of the communityʼ
s energy, knowledge, andintelligence is now a vital ingredient in the success of many different types of sustainability
programs. (NSW heritage and Environment 2013)19
When associated with aspects of a sustainable environment the restorative actions outlined above
are able to place awareness of self and others, by residents and staff at an unexpected level ofknowledge and empathy. This study places the Curtin research at the leading edge of effective
restorative and environmentally sustainable prisons and associated projects. It will shed light on theinterconnectivity and build into the universal template not only the aims to be achieved,but also how
to make the journey effective and efficient. Prisons currently offer little that is positive to society interms of reducing criminal activity, reducing further victimisation and making communities safe. In
addition, their economic and social costs are high. To date their impact on the environment has held
little interest in criminology or by environmentalists,or indeed government departments. Sustainable
penal estates have waited too long to be explored and this project will inform other jurisdictions
through the development of the universal template action-based research and experimental projects,
journal articles, papers, presentations and seminars.
A unique network of Curtin scientists and practitioners has begun to build up the projectʼs sustainability credentials with a collective responsibility to reduce the combined estatesʼcarbon footprint.
The vision is also to enhance the opportunity of residents to actively participate in constructive roles
as research assistants,facilitators and practitioners within the custodial environment and within theircommunities upon release. It is a combination of sustainable skills acquisition, competency training
and empowerment for all participants including staff. The study has already started to encourage
further examination of food production,security and transport;investigate the use ofclean,sustainable
and efficient energy production;research innovative storage,use and reuse of water;and seek alternative and innovative energy efficient practices. It will also seek to examine the estateʼ
s ability tocontribute to other environmentally sustainable practices including species protection of flora andfauna; including breeding and re-stocking national parks and wildlife sanctuaries; growing andnurturing plants for prison and commercial use;supplying produce for zoological and farming enterprises (aquaculture, agriculture and horticulture)and supporting local environmental interest groups.
These credentials will provide the platform for further awareness training and education amongresidents, who will be well placed as skilled citizens. Together these values place the emphasis on
responsibility for self, others and living environments.
Prisons are workplaces as well as places for secure custody. They also provide an ever-growing
population of workers. A sustainable workplace is defined by Sustainability at Work20 as bringing
about the following benefits to the organisationʼ
s workplace; environmental, human resources andemployee engagement, financial and brand and reputation. In terms of this research project all
aspects will be thoroughly explored, evaluated and documented. Sustainable Prison Projects (SPP)
exist for small groups of prisoners in very few jurisdictions. Among the more well-known is a work
camp at Cedar Creek21, where nearly 60 inmates live and work in the low security forest work camp.
They hold a variety of jobs on the sustainability project; composting material, looking after bees,
collecting rainwater and they run a scientific research project on endangered species. The stateʼs
Deputy Director of Prisons, Dan Pacholke22 says that any prison system will tell you that idleness isa bad thing,“if we donʼt have stuff for them to do,then weʼ
re just going to hire more security staff.
Itʼs environmental economics, weʼ
re expensive places to operate. I could sell the［project］on cost
containment alone:solid waste, energy, food costs”.
India too has an excellent environmental awareness and sustainability section at Tihar Jail,Delhi.
19

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/community/index.htm>.
http://www.sustainabilityatwork.com.au/public/images/benefit.jpg>retrieved Thursday July 11, 2013.
21 Cedar Creek, Washington State Department of Corrections and The Evergreen State College facility joint project.
22 http://blogs.evergreen.edu/sustainableprisons/files/2013/01/SPP-EssentialComponents-1-10-13.pdf>.
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Tihar houses more than 14,000 prisoners (almost half of Australiaʼ
s entire prison population). Over the
past two years,the Prison Director has introduced a greening and environmentally sustainable prison
regime. The prison grounds cover over 200 hectares in the middle of New Delhi and yet inside theprison boasts an environmentally positive ambience with trees, shrubs and herb, fruit and vegetablegardens. The authorities have introduced several animal and bird species including cows,pigeons andgeese,although the food served in the prison is entirely vegetarian. The Director explains that caring
for the animals has had a calming effect on the prisoners and staff and that, overall, there have only
been positive outcomes.

IV. CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY AND AWARENESSFor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents and staff as well as students and staff acrossCurtin the research project will bring about significant sharing of ideas and a greater depth ofunderstanding of the spiritual and cultural significance and interconnectedness of people, place,country and environment. Cultural significance and sustainability will be studied throughout the
project as a central part of the overall concern for the 40 per cent of the resident population that
identify themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. This group of residents will informthe templateʼs cultural sensitivity and sustainability notes as well as provide input into regenerationand sustainable production of local food, seeds, species and plants.
Aboriginal residents and support staff will ensure cultural awareness is presented and respectedacross the template design and along with selected non-Aboriginal residents assist with as much as they
are able to with the project and research team. This is a crucial aspect of the project. The study willat all times engage and empower residents within a learning environment as well as helping them toincrease their knowledge of restorative practices and environmental sustainability. This will entail
peer-to-peer and lateral training across roles as well as top to bottom and bottom-up training inconcepts,terminology and practice,fitting as it does with Braithwaiteʼs (2002)notion of transformationof the current justice system. For residents at each site,this study will involve them in researching andgaining knowledge of ideas suitable for their current circumstance as well as for their own family andcommunity upon release.

V. SIGNIFICANCE AND INNOVATION IN CREATING AND COMBININGRESTORATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICESThis piece of research is highly significant as it presents the opportunity for a paradigmatic shift
in the way that the total prison environment is viewed and managed. This,in turn impacts upon otherhuman service institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes as well as smaller rural and remotecommunities where relationships with others and the environment are crucial in terms of sustainability
and capacity building. Indeed, the research proper aims to address several important issues foundwithin prisons across jurisdictions;the high re-victimisation and recidivism rates, the awareness ofharm done to others and the interconnection between prison, community and their impact on theenvironment. The above could have a direct impact on small communities and rural towns that could
benefit from the return of ex-prisoners who are fully skilled in both restorative justice and environmental sustainability. This directly links the penal estateʼ
s creative and innovative activities to community
needs and local benefits. It enhances the opportunity for ex-prisoners to make the journeyfrom convict
to citizen,an area of special interest throughout the research. Furthermore,the research calls upon all
residents and workers within the penal estate to work towards common goals and shared ambitions
with regard to lowering conflict and crime, reducing victimisation and harm to the environment. It
links up notions of food insecurity, safer communities and ecologically sound management of bothprison and community space.
The current partnership with Serco developed through the Curtin University researchersʼinvolvement with them over the past eight years. M anagement is innovative and want to use restorative
justice processes within a wholly sustainable environment throughout their combined estates,includingtransport and court services, placing the vision and practices within their organisational goals.
Custodial settings that run on restorative and sustainable practices have the potential to;55

RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 93
Be innovative by promoting an awareness of the impact of criminal activity on victims and allothers harmed,including family and associates,through direct encounters between victims andoffenders, including notions of responsibility taking, apology and reparation
Promote environmental sustainability as a learning tool,skilling all participants and creating
greater awareness of the interconnectedness of harm to self, others and the planet
Establish meaningful and sustainable workplace activities for prisoners where a proportion of
their time is spent working for the benefit of others, particularly victims
Incorporate restorative principles into all dispute, grievance and disciplinary procedures
throughout the prison and Sercoʼ
s other sites
Initiate good relationships with local communities to illustrate the need for prisoners to bereconciled with society and environment
It is anticipated that this study will advance the criminological and sustainable environmental
knowledge base at Curtin. The authors view this as a win-win situation for Curtin researchers andcampus,Serco,prisoners,victims and the environment. In taking this research out into other jurisdictions, the idea of the international template becomes a major focus, a point of connection between
Curtin Universityʼ
s researchers and other interested parties worldwide.

VI. SIGNIFICANCE AND INNOVATION FOR CURTIN
AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES IN THE REGION
This research allows for the expansion of innovative and creative research within two major fields
that intersect through the new penal estate and created for future living. It also addresses CurtinʼsStrategic Plan23 “where Leadership matters”. It will focus on people and culture across the campus asit brings together research teams, graduates, teachers and students across a broad spectrum of interests. The project will develop into an inspiring and innovative collective of energetic Curtin people.
Indeed, under the heading of research this ticks all of the boxes. It already has iconic names with
Aertsen (KUL Leuven)Belgium;Braithwaite (ANU);Shapland (Sheffield)UK;Lalli and Subramarian(India)Wong and Chang (CityU)Hong Kong as well as Newman and team at CUSP. Within Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander interests it has strong credentials across Australian campuses as well as
leadership within Curtin. The research is a life-changer for individuals,families and communities herein Western Australia, across the nation and internationally. It is high impact applied research anddevelopment across disciplines.
The teaching and learning credentials of the project will lead to an expanded source of students andgraduates as residents within the custodial estates along with their counterparts on campus engage inthe various projects on a demanding learning curve. As for “engagement and impact”this project isbest described as a dynamic organism for the region. It will bring challenges to many assumptions
about crime, living environments, sustainability and Indigenous interests whilst meeting the needs ofdiverse communities across country and borders. It has already gained interest through SteelsʼandGouldingʼ
s work as Directors of the Asia Pacific Forum for Restorative Justice and partnerships built
up over several years. This collaboration of international networks already links Curtin with manyother academic sites across the Asia Pacific as well as Europe. It gives Curtin and its partners aleading edge in two fields as criminology and sustainability meet to reduce harm to people across theworld. This project is about researching socially just and sustainable living that embraces positivechange, and meets Curtinʼs mission and that of our neighbours in many ways. For Curtin, Serco andother partners,this research project will identify and examine each aspect of sustainability. Crucially
it will include sustainable prison programs as well as harmony building and relationships central torestorative practices. These will build up part of the “
template”and will include noting the engagement with community groups, how assistance is given to primary and secondary victims and how
innovation and cultural challenges could be understood and transferred through the template,to other
23 Curtinʼs Strategic Plan 2013-2017.

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prisons,locally and internationally. It will also inform the future design ofsustainable and harmonious
communities.

VII. COUNTERING GROWTH IN THE PENAL ESTATE
It remains a major concern that there is continuous growth in prison populations. On average prison
populations in Australia have grown by 5 per cent each year over the past two decades.24 Such growth
in prison populations and costs are unsustainable and unjustifiable as imprisonment remains an
ineffective tool for reducing crime. However, crime rates have fluctuated over this period, showing
both increases and declines. Garland25 contends that,“
todayʼ
s world of crime control and criminal
justice was not brought into being by rising crime rates
It was created instead by a series ofadaptive responses to the cultural and criminological conditions of late modernity”. Thus, theeffectiveness of imprisonment is questionable as prisons are often the embodiment of secrecy,invisibility, exclusion and lack of accountability:
These factors encourage, rather than discourage, coercion brutality and violence amongst
prisoners and prison staff. One of the consequences of this is that imprisonment
does notprepare inmates for productive and pro-social living in the wider community26
The argument here is that imprisoning more people for longer periods of time does not makecommunities safer or victims at less risk of further victimisation. Furthermore, the economic andsocial costs of imprisonment are unsustainable27 as is the impact on the environment. Ever-increasing
imprisonment rates result in escalating economic and social costs but present few real benefits tocommunities. Austin et al28 highlight these facts:
This high rate of recidivism is,in part,a result of a range of policies that increase surveillanceover people released from prison, impose obstacles to their re-entry into society, and eliminate
support systems that ease their transition from prison to the streets. Prison policyhas exacerbated the festering national problem of social and racial inequality.
Austin et al29 call for reform in rehabilitation and especially the focus on the other that causes
non-Caucasians to be arrested and jailed at higher rates than their Caucasian peers, a factor that isreflected throughout Australian and similar jurisdictions. Johnstone and Van Ness30 have argued that“
prisons are authoritarian and hierarchical, controlling virtually all aspects of the lives of prisoners, making it difficult for them to exercise responsibility. Yet, responsibility is a key value of
restorative justice”. However to date little attention is given to the sustainability of programs,where
due process of engaging with a pre-release program is often delayed. Any interconnectivity between
harm of self,harm to others and harm to place and planet remains unnoticed and disconnected within
the criminal justice system. This research begins to join the dots together.
Lessons learned from Belgiumʼs Restorative Prison experiment and research include the importanceof sustaining programs and practices throughout an ever changing group ofresidents and high turnoverof staff. This study will help to identify ways in which prisons can maintain restorative,fair and justpractices over time whilst creating inbuilt sustainability across the various social roles and actors(prisoners/residents;staff/management;visitors;service providers). Sustaining corporate knowledge
will present a challenge where the cost of maintaining the total penal estate frequently fails to
acknowledge the environmental and social costs against a broad spectrum of performance indicators.
The authors therefore argue that the above should inform policies and practices as well as presenting
a viable, positive alternative in terms of reduced social and economic costs to governments and theircommunities. Curtin and its partners across the region have a vision for restorative processes
24 Australian Institute of Criminology 2007.
25 Garland 2001:193.
26 Goulding, Hall and Steels 2008:232.
27 Austin et al.:2007:1.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 Johnstone and Van Ness 2007.

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becoming fundamental to all communications and activities within all residential units along with aunique interest in cultural and environmental sustainability. Serco has keen residents, staff andmanagement who are engaged with Curtin in developing restorative and sustainable practices wherever possible. The custodial and transport facilities are at the forefront of reducing carbon footprints
within the industry. In order to develop the universal template,this Curtin-based research has begun
with an expansive platform that examines restorative, therapeutic and sustainable processes andoutcomes including the:Degree of awareness of and reparation to victims and communities through work activities
that assist individual victims or communities harmed by crime
Journey from convict to citizen;what helps and what hinders
Impact of encouraging prisoners to apologize in recognition of the harm caused to victims andfamilies, their own families and local communities
Restructuring of all grievance procedures to include alternative dispute resolution processes,
family and community encounters,prisoner-to-prisoner disputes,prisoner to staff disputes andall prison staff grievances
Encouragement given to prisoners to engage in therapeutic programs in the prison withsupport networks of family or peers
Degree of participation of residents and workers learning about and actively participating in
restorative justice and environmental sustainability practices
Identifying and lowering Carbon footprint levels over research period
Percentages of food use to production on site, as well as energy usage, production andreduction
Level of stress and sick leave among staff, residents over term of research project
The project will also lead Curtin research teams in an exploration of:
Health and well-being, including mental health and stress of all residents and staff
Quality and safe work practices relating to total living and working environments
Sustaining quality water supplies (renewable and reusable― fresh/grey, tanks, ponds)
Energy production and storage,including new research for painted roof technologies,thermal
and passive energy design and implementation
Prison Industries;low and renewable energy use,and to provide evidence of effective practices
for the broader community
Food production and wastage:cottage-industry style production (bee keeping,jam and pickle
making, preserves), on small and commercial scales
M aintaining cultural and traditional language and activities, including sustainable use ofcountry
M edia/arts studies linked to restorative and environmentally sustainable practices
Rehabilitative activities including RJ, Restore, STP and others including family support

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M eaningful support to Victims of crime and their various groups,and offers of participating
in any aspect of the research and projects
Designing sustainable prisons through collectives of science and technology
Quality social practices throughout the estate that are restorative and that aim to build aculture of support within and outside of the prison
Innovation and creativity across roles within penal estates
Low carbon footprint surveillance technologies and systems
The above will be taken into account for their ability to encourage and support positive lifestyles
cognizant of reducing harm across penal and community environments. Research shows that restorative justice processes can assist in reducing crime by up to 30 per cent when used in conjunction withtherapeutic interventions.31 Currently there is a lack of evidence to link restorative justice, harmreducing programmes and environmental sustainability with an ability to reduce re-victimisation.
However, this unique and innovative project positions Curtin and its partners to enquire of thepathways chosen by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people leaving the penal estate. It has the ability
to highlight outcomes to all communities,but especially rural and remote locations where a disproportionate number of Indigenous people are arrested, imprisoned and released without gaining positive
skills for their future. This applies to similar marginalised groups of people throughout the Asian
region.

VIII. DATA COLLECTION
Data will be continually collected through an analysis of current procedures and practices across all
sectors of the prison estate. Measurements will be taken of all aspects32 of the project and will form
the baseline to identify organizational change, as well as sustainable activities and outcomes.
Discussions and continual feedback will involve senior management, staff, visitors, focus groups andprisoners together with scientists, researchers and evaluators. This data will inform a benchmark ofinternational standards within the universal template. Importantly, residents will participate andinform all parts of the research from its inception through to practice and where possible they will be
employed by the prison to participate in sessions with the research teams on site and on the Curtin
campus via Skype. Once international partnerships are formed these too will connect with prisons andother campuses.

IX. DISSEMINATION OF SIGNIFICANT
AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH OUTCOMES
Prison residents will present findings at local and international seminars using interactive technology, teleconferencing, and pre-recorded presentations. Our international networks suggest that thefrequent dissemination of information through journal articles and presentations will attract further
national and global interest. Journal papers have already been called for from China, India, Hong
Kong,UK,Belgium and Japan. Team members have begun to brief the legal,criminal justice,victims
of crime and environmental and sustainability sectors of government through regular seminars andproject newsletters. Serco management,staff and official visitors will continue to highlight the workthrough their world-wide magazines, and other partnerships including Perth Zoo, M en of Trees,
Department of Agriculture, and Corrective Services. Residents and staff will be encouraged andsupported by researchers to disseminate information and research outcomes through local radio,
international prisoner magazines and articles in Penal Reform International and the International
Centre for Prison Studies,London. The World Congress of Victims of Crime will be invited to explore
31 Bonta, Jesseman, Rugge and Cormier 2006.
32 To date this includes water and power and waste management, renewable energy, measuring carbon footprint,

converting to electric equipment, recycling, introducing RJ in programs and grievance procedures, engagement with
community partners, inclusion of victims of crime, providing community equipment and further reparation practices.

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the project prior to their conference in Fremantle 2015.

X. PARTNER ORGANISATIONS ― COMMITMENT AND COLLABORATION
Serco is committed to this research and will assist with the transformation of its existing penal
culture through the use of restorative and sustainable policies and practices. It is willing to assist withthe development of the template for cultural change, recognizing its value within its own and otherorganisations. Sercoʼ
s values are reflected in its Governing Principles that in turn fit within RJ andsustainability. It aims to foster an entrepreneurial culture by encouraging and generating new ideas
and embracing change. It aims to positively contribute to the communities that it works with including
victims of crime groups and individual beneficiaries, prisonersʼfamilies and networks and otherparticipatory communities of interest. Its environmental aims include assisting prisoners to transformtheir lives into capable,confident citizens who can make a constructive contribution to their familyand
community.
It is through these practices that Acacia and its parent companySerco Asia Pacific stronglysupport
this project. Curtin University and Serco Asia Pacific are in the process of completing a Memorandumof Understanding to ensure the sustainability of the project and beyond. City University of Hong Kongand the Institute of Correctional Administration (India)are encouraging further research and development of alliances. Serco is also seeking support from Curtin to enhance its work through further
research across its estate,raising conversations relating to its other work associated with hospitals anddetention centres.
Another major partner in this and future research is the Asia Pacific Forum for Restorative Justice(APFRJ). Its patron, Professor John Braithwaite, is the worldʼ
s foremost and acclaimed author of
Restorative Justice and his support for such a regional body has been exceptional. Its international
membership represents all regional nations and many academic institutions. The Directors of APFRJ
are able to place Curtin at the leading edge of regional activity. This project fits within its goals andaspirations for a positive and participatory cultural shift within the field of criminology and social
justice,including support for the integration of the regionʼ
s Indigenous prisoner populations (including
Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Afghanistan, China and India) to be active participants in the
research.

XI. APPROACH AND DESIGN
The project continues to use a multi-disciplinary approach to design, implement and evaluate thetemplate for a restorative and environmentally sustainable penal estate and its support networks oftransport and visitors services. The template will be flexible enough to be used across cultures andjurisdictions. In essence, the research is informed by the following concepts:theories of restorative
prisons;33 notion of re-integrative shaming;34 fair & just processes,35 and a theory of responsibilitytaking.36 The study also takes account of organizational cultural change37 in concert with industry
appropriate cultural change theory developed byAertsen38 specificallyfor the Belgian experience. The
critical economical analysis of imprisonment will refer to Austin et al.39 and the environmental
sustainability will refer to Australian Standard (AS)ISO 14064 series,and International Standard ISO
14040 series as well as other protocols and reporting guidelines as outlined by the team through thesupport of its partner CUSP.

33 Newell 2001;Aertsen 2006.
34 Braithwaite 1989.
35 Tyler 2006.
36 Sykes & Matza 1957.
37 Scott et al., 2003.
38 Aertsen 2006.
39 Austin et al., 2007.

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156TH INTERNATIONAL SENIOR SEM INAR
VISITING EXPERTSʼPAPERS

XII. 4 YEAR PROJECT DESIGN:TO DATE AND THROUGHOUT YEAR 1
Activity

Support & Collaboration

Notes

Developing partnership

APRRJ/Serco

RJ development (past 8 years)

Developing RJ teams

CAS, ORD & APFRJOver past 18 months

Developing International team

Aertsen, Wong, Lalli, ShaplandOver past 18 months

Initiating interest in RJ grant

CAS & Serco

ARC Linkage application ʻ
13

Initiating interest in RJ grant

CAS & Serco

Preparing ARC Discovery 2014
(RJ)

Interest in sustainable prison

CAS/Serco facilities

Over past 9 months

Developing teams

CAS, ORD, Serco, APFRJ

Ongoing

Linking with CUSPCAS & ORD

In progress

Visits to Serco facilities

CAS, CUSP, ORD

Over past 2 months

Symposium for RJ and a andSustainability

ORD, CAS, CUSP, Serco

Invites extended to
Researchers, academics,
NGOs, contractors and networks

Develop further ResearchTeams and opportunities
across disciplines.

Various faculties and schools,
As well as other international
collaborating

Initiate collaborative ARC andother Competitive grants, also
Lottery West and philanthropic
grants across health,social justice,
Aboriginal and environmental sustainability interests

Establish community
Consultation and research comm.

Community groups, NGOs
And teams

Consultation with various groups
And government sector, for members

Baseline Date collection

Across research teams

First stage of audit of penal estate

Ethics applications

Individual research teams

Timeline dependent on variables

Data collection

Teams

Audit of other Serco services

Begin RJ practice training

All residents and staff

Capture activity via multi media

Activity

Support & Collaboration

Notes

Develop, support andmonitor ongoing projects

Across all disciplines
ORD, CAS

Develop sustainable
leadership within teams

Develop and build
capacity for further research

Various faculties, schools andPartnerships. ORD

Retain Curtinʼs corporate knowledge of its footprints during thisproject

Publish and present

Asia Pacific, European and
US/Canadian networks

Aim to have at least 2 papers fromeach area pa ＋ 2 Books publications

Keynote presentations andRegional workshop

Environmental and SustainableInstitutions and communities

Produce academic book chapters,
and papers from at least two international conferences

Hold 2 conferences at Curtin
over three year period

APFRJ/WA Govt/SercoNGOs

One is already being considered
for end of 2014 (RJ and Sust.
Prisons)

Exchange HDR students
And academics

Overseas Universities andRegional partners

Engage in overseas collaboration

4 year project design: Years 2, 3

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RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES No. 93
4 year project design: Year 4
Activity

Support & Collaboration

Notes

Continue to build networks
And interest in projects

Curtin, APFRJ, CUSP

Develop further
ARC and other Competitive
grants,Develop a Centre of Excellence(Sustainable Communities)

Curtin and partners

Open a Centre by 2017

Develop a Learning and Research
centre of RJ in prisonsCurtin, Serco and partners

Open a Centre by 2017

This project began life several years ago,and has already seen several papers produced following
keynote addresses and presentations. The sustainability dimension has only been added over the past
12 months, following Steelsʼnetworking and development of projects within the partnerships built up
around the APFRJ,CUSP and Serco Asia Pacific. The Office of Research and Development and CUSP
have already contributed to much of the above,providing support and motivation. This research willlead and assist with the coordination of multi-disciplined teams entering the prisons to conduct
research interconnected through this project, and to inform the template for other jurisdictions.
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