Circles of support : towards Indigenous justice : prevention, diversion and rehabilitation

Description

Although the ACT has the lowest rate of imprisonment of any Australian jurisdiction, and one of the lowest rates of Indigenous imprisonment, Indigenous people are still significantly overrepresented in the justice system. This report attempts to engage with the reasons for this over-representation, to identify existing mainstream and Indigenous crime prevention and diversion initiatives in the ACT, to highlight gaps in service provision and areas of unmet need and make recommendations for change. Its purpose is to stimulate a shift in thinking within Government and the broader community about crime prevention and diversion. The report has been informed by extensive research of law and justice literature, as well as consultations with Government policy officers and program managers, public and community legal services, mainstream community sector organisations engaged in crime prevention and Indigenous community organisations and community sector workers. These consultations were conducted in a variety of ways, including one-on-one meetings and a community forum. It is through the research and consultation process that they have documented the programs and services mentioned in this report, however, it is important to note that these do not represent an exhaustive list.

Copyright Information

This publication is copyright, apart from use by those agencies for which it has been produced. Non-profit associations and groups have permission to reproduce parts of this publication as long as the original meaning is retained and proper credit is given to the ACT Council of Social Service Inc (ACTCOSS). All other individuals and Agencies seeking to reproduce material from this publication should obtain the permission of the Director of ACTCOSS