“It is a national shame that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are 15 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous adults, while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are a staggering 31 times more likely to be in detention than non-Indigenous young people,” said Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell.
Mr Gooda and Ms Mitchell’s comments follow the release of a Senate report, Value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia. The report highlights Australia’s escalating imprisonment rate and its associated economic and social cost. It examines alternatives to imprisonment such as prevention, early intervention and diversionary measures.
The report recommends establishing a trial justice reinvestment program. It also recommends including justice reinvestment targets in Closing the Gap, a strategy to improve the health, education and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“There is a groundswell of support for justice reinvestment that has been building since we raised the idea in the Social Justice Report 2009,” Mr Gooda said. “Justice reinvestment is not a silver bullet but it does offer us the best chance to reorient our system away from imprisonment for non-serious offenders.”
“This report provides a series of concrete steps that could lead to groundbreaking work on justice reinvestment in Australia. We urge the government to implement the recommendations in this report without delay.”
