Research briefs

Conducting Research with Indigenous people and communities (pdf 559 kB)

Dr Judy Putt

This brief provides an overview of innovative and exemplary research approaches and practice undertaken with and by Indigenous communities that is relevant to crime and justice research.  The brief covers research practice and context, ethical frameworks and review processes, practical constraints and challenges, and promising practice. Where appropriate, examples are drawn from other countries, most notably New Zealand and Canada.

Sentencing of Indigenous Women (pdf 511 kB)

Dr Lorana Bartels

Indigenous women remain overrepresented among defendants before courts and in prison populations, while being underrepresented on community corrections orders. Data and literature on the patterns and practices of sentencing of Indigenous women offenders in Australia are examined in this brief along with examples of custodial and non-custodial sentencing options and promising examples of programs seeking to address the specific needs of Indigenous women. Developments in Canada and New Zealand, where Indigenous women are likewise overrepresented in the criminal justice system, are also examined.

Place-Based Initiatives and Indigenous Justice (PDF 758kB)

Robyn Gilbert

Over the past decade, Australian governments have implemented a number of place-based initiatives in Indigenous communities, which attempt deep changes in the local operation of government agencies and their relationships with communities and each other.This brief considers the effectiveness of these initiatives.

Communities Working to Reduce Family Violence (PDF 767kB)

Kyllie Cripps and Megan Davis

This brief outlines some of the promising efforts to reduce Indigenous family violence in Australia and internationally, including both government and community initiatives, as well as support mechanisms and measures for victims.

Working with Indigenous offenders to end violence (PDF 527kB)

This research brief examines literature from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom and reports on the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing violent reoffending.

Promising interventions for reducing Indigenous juvenile offending (PDF 803kB)

Indigenous juveniles are over-represented at all stages of the criminal justice system, and their over-representation becomes more pronounced at the most severe end of the system (ie in detention). Recent figures show that Indigenous juveniles are 24 times as likely to be detained in a juvenile correctional facility as non-Indigenous juveniles (Richards & Lyneham 2010).

Understanding and preventing Indigenous offending (PDF 794kB)

Indigenous over-representation is the most significant social justice and public policy issue for the Australian and New Zealand criminal justice systems. Closing the gap on Indigenous overrepresentation has been identified as a priority and promoted through the National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework and Reducing Offending by Māori Project (SCAG 2009; Yeboah 2000).

Indicators used internationally to measure Indigenous justice outcomes (PDF 546kB)

The social disadvantages faced by Indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand, across dimensions that include community safety and the justice system, have been well documented. The extent of Indigenous disadvantage and the complexities of overcoming it have led to the development of a range of indicators against which the effectiveness of efforts to reduce disadvantage can be measured. This paper aims to contribute to the further development of justice indicators by reporting on approaches used internationally.

Sentencing Indigenous offenders (PDF 956kB)

When sentencing Indigenous offenders, courts in Australia and New Zealand do their work in the knowledge that the rates of Indigenous imprisonment are much higher than the rates for the community as a whole. This brief seeks to provide an evidence base for the development of law and policy by highlighting some key issues concerning the sentencing of Indigenous offenders. It first outlines the statutory frameworks that are in place in Australia and New Zealand. Second, it discusses the development of common law principles relating to the sentencing of Indigenous offenders, focusing on the relevance of Indigenous status and Indigenous laws (often called customary law) and cultural practices. Finally, it reports on the results of statistical studies of sentencing of Indigenous offenders.

Identifying the risks for Indigenous violent victimisation (PDF 910kB)

Colleen Bryant

It is not a new observation that Indigenous people in Australia experience violence at a higher rate than the general population. The impact of violence on Indigenous people and their communities has been widely documented by government and non-government inquiries, reports and commentaries. As in all populations, some individuals, families and communities are more likely to be victims of violence than others. Identifying who is at risk, and the circumstances that increase those risks, is important for the implementation of targeted preventative strategies, such as night patrols and family counselling, and other services, including hospitals and child protection. This paper summarises the demographic and social factors associated with being a victim of violence.

Indigenous Sentencing Courts (PDF 483kB)

Elena Marchetti

This brief focuses on Indigenous sentencing courts, which operate in all Australian states and territories except Tasmania. These courts have been established according to protocols and practices, and can be distinguished from more informal practices that occur in remote areas where judicial officers travel on circuit. The first court was established in Port Adelaide on 1 June 1999. Indigenous sentencing courts do not practise or adopt Indigenous customary laws. Rather, they use Australian criminal laws and procedures to sentence Indigenous offenders who have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty, but they allow Indigenous Elders and Respected Persons to participate in the process, thereby creating a more culturally appropriate forum for sentencing Indigenous offenders (Auty 2004).

Staying strong on the outside: improving the post-release experience of Indigenous young adults (PDF 139kB)

Robyn Gilbert and Anna Wilson

The rate of imprisonment of Indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand continues to be unacceptably high. Indigenous people are more likely to return to prison than are non-Indigenous people. How can young Indigenous adults be assisted to make a successful transition from prison to the community? What public services and community supports have been shown to contribute to a successful transition?

Sex offender treatment programs : effectiveness of prison and community based programs in Australia and New Zealand (PDF 155kB)

Sarah Macgregor

This Brief examines whether programs designed to treat sex offenders in Australia and New Zealand are effective in reducing sexual recidivism. The review of the evaluation findings indicates that the vast majority of programs are effective in reducing sexual recidivism. Further evaluation work is needed in the Australian context including examination of the effectiveness of programs for Indigenous sex offenders.

Bail support in Australia (PDF 120kB)

Gabrielle Denning-Cotter

This Brief examines programs that are designed to assist a person to successfully complete their bail period. From a review of the Australian and international literature, principles of best practice are presented and current bail support programs for adults and juveniles in Australia are outlined. It was found that there are very few Indigenous specific bail support programs.

Research on strong Indigenous communities (PDF 130kB)

Ruth Lawrence

The first brief examines strong Indigenous communities. This brief describes the variation in Indigenous crime rates among communities and describes what we know about safe communities that have low rates of assault and property violence. The Brief describes what Australian research is available and suggests further research in this area based on innovative international research.