Imagine a world where, following a period of imprisonment, there comes a time when you can put it all behind you; restitution to the community you harmed by your offence has been made and now the rest of your life awaits you. The reality, however, is that for most of us who have experienced periods of imprisonment, the albatross of criminal convictions will hang around our necks in perpetuity. One of the challenges faced upon leaving custody is finding employment. Inevitably the process requires applicants to reveal criminal records and exposes them to potential discrimination and rejection. Spent conviction schemes, purportedly designed to offer an opportunity for putting certain convictions behind us, in reality, offer neither hope nor opportunity. The legislation governing Spent Convictions in each state differs widely. E.g., if you are convicted of an offence in Victoria attracting a sentence of less than 30 months, that conviction can become 'spent'. However in NSW a custodial sentence of greater than 6 months will preclude that offence from ever being 'spent'. This divergence creates an unjust system which supports ongoing ‘legal collateral consequences’ This presentation explores Cartesian dualism and Comte’s Positivist Social Science, both built into our organisational management and social welfare systems, as potential root causes of the “shared dilemma” of Spent Convictions Schemes. We will look at how taking a philosophical approach borrowed from Permaculture, an approach to ecological management, with principals and ethics situated in intersectional context with the biosphere, systems theory, and justice, may offer solutions.
Presenters
Reverend Greg Colby
– Program Manager, The Salvation Army, Inner City Homelessness Services (Foster House), Surry Hills
I am a person with lived experience of the custodial systems in NSW and Victoria. As a juvenile I experienced periods of remand in Minda, Yasmar and at Tamworth Boys Home and a period of detention to Mt Penang Juvenile Detention Centre. I have had adult sentences of imprisonment and spent those sentences at Long Bay (MRRC and CIP), Cessnock and in Victoria at Pentridge. I have completed University studies in Counselling, Theology and am currently completing a Master of Social and Organisational Leadership through Charles Sturt. In 2017 I was ordained an Anglican Priest and spent 5 years in parish ministry. I am currently working in the field of Homelessness as a Residential Program Manager at an inner-city homeless men’s accommodation centre in Surry Hills, Sydney. As a person with lived experience, I continue to be filled with anxiety every time I apply for a job due to the inevitable history check leading to uncomfortable conversations. Just last year, I had a job offer rescinded because of my record. This was despite assurances at the interview that it would not be an issue. I am passionate about Social Justice and engaging in conversations about the reality of prison life, addiction, and recovery. I am a survivor. Married to Belinda, I have 5 sons, 2 stepdaughters, 3 grandchildren, 3 cats, 2 dogs and a love for lists! In my downtime I love listening to true crime, history and science podcasts, singing and having a red hot crack at standup comedy.
