Indigenous people are highly over-represented in the criminal justice system, as both young people and adults. The early involvement of young people in the criminal justice system puts them at much higher risk of being imprisoned as adults.
Poverty, unemployment, low levels of educational attainment, and lack of access to social services are associated with high crime rates and high levels of imprisonment.
KEY MESSAGES
Indigenous imprisonment rates increased by 32 per cent between 2000 and 2006 (figure 3.12.1).
Between 2002 and 2006, the imprisonment rate increased by 34 per cent for Indigenous women and by 22 per cent for Indigenous men (table 3A.12.7).
In 2006, after adjusting for age differences, Indigenous people were 13 times more likely than non-Indigenous people to be imprisoned (table 3.12.1).
At 30 June 2005, Indigenous juveniles were 23 times more likely to be detained than non-Indigenous juveniles. The difference between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous juvenile detention rates has increased since 2001 (figure 3.12.4).
THINGS THAT WORK
Victoria’s Koori Courts, South Australia’s Nunga Courts and Queensland’s Murri Courts reduce cultural alienation for Indigenous offenders and give Indigenous people more input into the judicial process, particularly sentencing (boxes 3.12.2–4).
Report Chapter 3: Headline Indicators
(PDF document)
Attachment 3A
(Excel document)