Lack of Funding closes groups

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 6

Lack of Funding closes groups

| ([lnsufficient ■ GovernSent funding has forced e closing of two Christchurch community care programmes, the (Salisbury Street ; foundation says- ; 0 0' ( i The two programmes, poly Drug ICdhtre and dlarmont House;; took in offenders seyte'need to community or half remission terms. Both received funding from [the justice Department 4hr ? each offender sentenqyi there at maximum ldfo $l2 a day. I i According; to Mr Kei? Turner, the of the Salisbury Foundation, ia similar organisation, $l2 a day! is not enough! to provide l adequate care for' those ! who are mainly recidivist, ' or persistent offenders j often with violent backgrounds. 1 ; ! Court sentences to these organisations are often for i six months but the Government provides funding for only four months. The Government promised to fund these organisations H (inder the Criminal Jus(ice Act legislation, in 1985. i. j { |j The organisations would;) Come under increased 1 fin-j uncial stress lif the Gov-( (Smment removed their! i charitable organisation; status. Mr Turner |said ! that private sector fund-i ing would I dry up if j this ] happened. i ■ i | I [i “The cost of community sentences is half that of prison stays. It'therefore ' Ceems detrimental to the department’s own I long i term goals to build more prisohs without first comh ' jmitting itself to a rehabfii- ' i.tative approach through,' ! care iparole programmes,!’ he j *“ <t :-■ /■ 1 0J i H