So what do you think of "compulsed volunteering?"
In Australia, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph reported on July 1, 2011: "People too poor to pay their fines will be allowed to work off their debts by volunteering with charities."
Five comments
The Full article:
PEOPLE too poor to pay their fines will be allowed to work off their debts by volunteering with charities.
Attorney-General Greg Smith will expand a program that allows low-income earners to work with church and community groups instead of paying their speeding, red-light camera and fare evasion fines.
"They would have to show that they are financially disadvantaged," Mr Smith said.
"It would be a one-to-one situation for offences like minor shoplifting offences, speeding and red light fines."
The two-year Work Development Orders (WDO) pilot program, which ends on July 10, has processed 700 people who racked up massive debts.
The pilot program members, including homeless youth, people with mental illnesses and poor families, reduced their fine debt by a combined $294,000.
About 80 per cent of the participants did not incur another fine after entering the program.
Youth Off The Streets CEO Father Chris Riley said the program would allow the disadvantaged youth on the street to shake off debts and have a "new start".
"These fines can add up to thousands of dollars and eventually the fine becomes so big, they just throw their hands in the air and say, 'Look, I can't ever fix this, so I'm just going to keep going with getting fines on trains'," Father Riley said.
"It is important that we make sure whoever signs up for this program, they are kept accountable and that they don't abuse the system.
"That is a key factor for us."
Father Riley said WDO members would be asked to perform a number of tasks ranging from cleaning creeks to assisting with disabled children.
The Attorney-General's department has co-ordinated the program with the State Debt Recovery Office and the Bureau of Crime Statistics.
In 2009, more than 2.8 million people were issued with penalty notices for minor criminal infractions and regulatory offences.
Mr Smith said it was crucial to break the habit of taking driving licences away from repeat offenders.
A doctor involved with the pilot program said it was a proactive approach to early crime intervention.
"When I say I could help you get your licence back, all of a sudden we've got engagement," he said.
In Australia, Sydney's The Daily Telegraph reported on July 1, 2011: "People too poor to pay their fines will be allowed to work off their debts by volunteering with charities."
Five comments
- I am not at all opposed to this creative idea, especially if it gets people connected into a positive experience and helps people become financially free. In fact, I would like to enrol when I get a fine notice!
- Am fascinated again by the appropriation of volunteerism by government in this way- Is this in fact volunteering or an indentured labour scheme where people work off a debt? What do you think? Does it matter if we call it volunteering?
- As an ex youth worker, I am thinking the "disadvantaged youth" that will "use this to make a new start"need to be managed/handled well/carefully. The experience could indeed transform them positively or it could be a colassal waste of time
- I missed the sentence where it says agencies who take on such "low income earners" will be funded to support the participants. Was there a sentence that said: "Mr Smith said in view of the responsibility and impost on the agencies and to ensure participants have a fruitful experience, agencies will be funded to manage the programs. Agencies electing to be involved in the scheme will receive funding to cover a SACS employee level 4 on a ratio of one hour for every four hours a participant puts in. So if an agency takes on 3 participants for 8 hours a week, the agency would receive funding of 6 hours a week." It costs agencies money to properly manage volunteers
- I am also fascinated by the silence from the Volunteer peak bodies in Australia on this? Do they like this direction or not?
Other people's comments?
The Full article:
PEOPLE too poor to pay their fines will be allowed to work off their debts by volunteering with charities.
Attorney-General Greg Smith will expand a program that allows low-income earners to work with church and community groups instead of paying their speeding, red-light camera and fare evasion fines.
"They would have to show that they are financially disadvantaged," Mr Smith said.
"It would be a one-to-one situation for offences like minor shoplifting offences, speeding and red light fines."
The two-year Work Development Orders (WDO) pilot program, which ends on July 10, has processed 700 people who racked up massive debts.
The pilot program members, including homeless youth, people with mental illnesses and poor families, reduced their fine debt by a combined $294,000.
About 80 per cent of the participants did not incur another fine after entering the program.
Youth Off The Streets CEO Father Chris Riley said the program would allow the disadvantaged youth on the street to shake off debts and have a "new start".
"These fines can add up to thousands of dollars and eventually the fine becomes so big, they just throw their hands in the air and say, 'Look, I can't ever fix this, so I'm just going to keep going with getting fines on trains'," Father Riley said.
"It is important that we make sure whoever signs up for this program, they are kept accountable and that they don't abuse the system.
"That is a key factor for us."
Father Riley said WDO members would be asked to perform a number of tasks ranging from cleaning creeks to assisting with disabled children.
The Attorney-General's department has co-ordinated the program with the State Debt Recovery Office and the Bureau of Crime Statistics.
In 2009, more than 2.8 million people were issued with penalty notices for minor criminal infractions and regulatory offences.
Mr Smith said it was crucial to break the habit of taking driving licences away from repeat offenders.
A doctor involved with the pilot program said it was a proactive approach to early crime intervention.
"When I say I could help you get your licence back, all of a sudden we've got engagement," he said.
