Aboriginal Communities Justice Project - Northern Territory (From Justice Programs for Aboriginal and Other Indigenous Communities, P 187-200, 1985, Kathleen M Hazelhurst, ed. - See NCJ-100652)

• NCJ Number: 100662
• Author(s): S Davis
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This paper describes the Australian Northern Territory's Aboriginal Communities Justice Project, an effort to increase Aboriginal involvement in justice administration, and presents offense data and recommendations pertaining to the project.

Abstract

In the project, senior Aboriginal custodians consult with magistrates prior to sentencing an Aboriginal offender and after pretrial consultation with the defendant's nuclear and extended family. Overall, the project aims to support existing social controls that reflect Aboriginal customs. The project has developed a genealogical index as a major tool for identifying defendants and tracing their kin whose traditional responsibilities toward the defendant include the exercise of Aboriginal social controls. These data are used to facilitate consultation with the defendant's family. The Prosecutors Management Information System also provides project data on offenses and imprisonment rates, which have shown a decrease since project implementation. This project description also encompasses alcohol-related offenses, the nature of Aboriginal family and clan social control, and police functions within the project orientation. Project recommendations pertain to improving operation of the courts and police. 8-item bibliography.