Reducing recidivism
RR25By25 and Beyond: A Justice Reinvestment Strategy aims to support a fair and sustainable criminal justice system in the ACT.
It focuses on improving justice outcomes by:
- preventing and reducing offending and reoffending
- reducing the number of people entering or returning to prison.
The RR25By25 and Beyond strategy is the second phase of the Reducing Recidivism in the ACT by 25% by 2025 Plan.
The strategy is an outcomes-focused and evidence-based strategic approach. It focuses on the following areas.
A research collaboration with the Australian National University (ANU) delivered research and evaluations of justice programs and services including:
- the justice housing program
- the bail and parole app
- the Yarning Circles program
- the Ngurrambai Bail Support Program.
The research collaboration also completed:
- an outcome measures project
- a data capacity project
- a qualitative desistance project, which explored how people stop offending.
The data capacity project, developed in collaboration with the Australian National University (ANU), helps strengthen data-informed decision making across the ACT justice system.
The project produced a suite of tools to support data collection, program monitoring and evaluation. The resources to design and evaluate criminal justice programs help improve how justice programs measure outcomes and assess effectiveness.
Read more about the resources to design and evaluate criminal justice programs.
Justice Futures Fund
Justice reinvestment is a long-term commitment. As part of this work, the ACT Government is reviewing the effectiveness of current approaches and working with the community to shape future priorities.
Between May and July 2025, independent organisation Curijo led a co-design process to explore options for a new Justice Futures Fund.
Curijo engaged with stakeholders from across government, community organisations and the broader community. The ACT Government is now considering Curijo's final report alongside implementation of the recommendations from the Independent Review into the Overrepresentation of First Nations People in the ACT Criminal Justice System.
Recidivism is a strategic indicator reported in Justice and Community Safety Directorate annual reports.