What factors will Corrections Victoria consider when they decide if I can do the Living with Mum program?
Commissioner’s Requirement 3.4.1 has a list of things that Corrections Victoria will think about when considering your application.
The General Manager, Operational Steering Committee and Deputy Commissioner of Custodial Operations will look at:
- The safety of your child
- The physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of your child
- Preserving the relationship between you and your child
- Continuity and stability of care for your, child including the likely effect on them of any changes in their circumstances
- Providing a safe and supportive environment that is appropriate to the age and development of your child
- Maintaining family and significant relationships
- The views of your child, your own family, the child’s other parent’s family, or any other person or carer who has a direct interest in your child’s welfare
- The strengthening of families in culturally appropriate ways
- Timely decision making
- The nature and circumstances of your offences, including your sentence or remand status and/or length of your sentence
- Your willingness to participate in relevant programs while in prison, including family support programs and parenting services available in prison
- Your behaviour in prison and whether that behaviour impacts on the safety of your child;
- The impact on the women’s prison population if your application was approved
- Prison management matters including the capacity of the prison to appropriately accommodate your child and/or to accommodate the special needs of anyone participating in the LWM Program
- Whether a decision to approve or not approve your application could improve or undermine the credibility or reputation of the prison system generally and/or the LWM Program