Wednesday luncheon with Michael O'Connell, Second Chances SA

 

Guest Speaker: Michael O'Connell, Second Chances SA

 

Prisoners' children - invisible victims of crime

 

Michael O’Connell AM, APM has worked in the field of victimology for about three decades.  For twelve of these years, he served as the first Commissioner for Victims' Rights in SA (and in Australia).  Since his retirement from paid-work in July 2018, Michael has continued and expanded his volunteering as an advocate and expert.  He has, for instance, carried the torch as Victims’ Advocate for Second Chances SA.  In this role he has, as his presentation will show, drawn attention to the plight of prisoners' children.

 

Michael will speak about how children of prisoners are overlooked, ignored and lost into the criminal justice system – not their crime – not their fault.

 

He will provide some data and tell stories of how the various government systems do not count or account for children when someone is taken into custody.  He’ll explain how early intervention is essential to divert them from detention, and the significance of teaching basic positive values in helping them make good choices for their own lives.  He’ll emphasise how important it is for this cohort to complete their education and move forward into a vocational pathway ensuring good citizenship.

 

 

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