Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News Australia

Too many indigenous Australians in jail, trends show

byMark Bowling
13 April 2016 - Updated on 1 June 2021
Reading Time: 1 min read
AA
Indigenous incarceration

Terrible statistics: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners account for 27 per cent of the total Australian prisoner population but make up just two per cent of the total Australian population aged 18 years and over, and trends show that this incarceration rate is increasing annually.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ABORIGINAL deaths in custody are in decline, but indigenous Australians remain grossly over represented in jail.

There were 339 recommendations handed down by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody in 1991.

And 25 years later, Aboriginal people are still over represented in our prison system, despite many of the recommendations addressing this issue.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners account for 27 per cent of the total Australian prisoner population, but make up just two per cent of the total Australian population aged 18 years and over, and trends show that this incarceration rate is increasing annually.

Chief executive officer and founder of Youth Off The Streets Salesian Father Chris Riley said the focus should be on young offenders in the juvenile justice system, and looking at recommendation 92 of the report again – only imprisoning as a last resort.

“It is clear that jail is not working,” he said.

“For indigenous people it is important they get back to their family and their land, because of their culture.”

Fr Riley said diversionary programs that kept young indigenous offenders out of jail were far more likely to prevent re-offending.

And he has advocated restorative practices as an alternative to court-based responses.

“Restorative practices give the victims a voice, and require direct participation by victims and offenders,” Fr Riley said.

Related Stories

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Church workers have helped more than 1.2 million Ukrainians during the war, Caritas says

“Offenders are forced to take responsibility for their actions and also meet the needs of the victim and community.

“We do not give victims a voice in our current system – one that allows the victim to realise and talk about what they have done.”

Fr Riley said “shaming” was one successful way of making young indigenous offenders face what they have done in front of their community.

Fr Chris Riley
Advocate: Fr Chris Riley.
ShareTweet
Previous Post

What is the difference between a Sacramental and a civil marriage?

Next Post

Pacific Island bishops make surprise but welcome visit to Papua

Mark Bowling

Mark is the joint winner of the Australian Variety Club 2000 Heart Award for his radio news reporting in East Timor, and has also won a Walkley award, Australia’s most-respected journalism award. Mark is the author of ‘Running Amok’ that chronicles his time as a foreign correspondent juggling news deadlines and the demands of being a husband and father. Mark is married with four children.

Related Posts

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning
QLD

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Church workers have helped more than 1.2 million Ukrainians during the war, Caritas says
World

Church workers have helped more than 1.2 million Ukrainians during the war, Caritas says

18 May 2022
Next Post
Papuan visit

Pacific Island bishops make surprise but welcome visit to Papua

Sleepout in Brisbane

Why Brisbane's Lord Mayor is planning to sleep under the Story Bridge in June

Timor Awakening

New veterans' rehabilitation program in Timor to combat "health crisis" and increased suicide rates with spirituality

Popular News

  • Pregnant woman

    Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Answering God’s invitation to us all

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

by Joe Higgins
20 May 2022
0

BRISBANE grandmother Gwendoline Grant has clocked up 15,000 hours cuddling and caring for sick and premature babies...

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022
Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping