NCJ Number
148980
Editor(s)
S McKillop
Date Published
1993
Length
243 pages
Annotation
This book presents papers from a 1992 Australian conference on problems and solutions associated with Aboriginal people's involvement in the criminal justice system.
Abstract
The opening address highlights the need to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. A paper on "Law Reform and the Road to Independence" views self-determination as the essential determinant of justice for indigenous people. Remaining papers are presented under the following topics: community crime prevention, Aboriginal/police relations, juvenile justice, the judiciary, Aboriginal women and the law, and corrections. Papers on crime prevention examine successful community crime prevention strategies that emphasize input and involvement of Aboriginal leaders. Three papers on Aboriginal/police relations describe positive changes in police organization, training, and strategy that can improve the ways in which Aboriginal people and the police interact. Papers on juvenile justice explore the overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in juvenile detention centers, suggestions for changing the pattern of Aboriginal youths' disproportionate contact with the juvenile justice system, and factors that contribute to offending by Aboriginal youths in a remote community. Papers on the judiciary's handling of Aboriginal defendants consider racism in sentencing, the failure of judges to challenge police on charges of the use of obscene language by Aboriginal people, the employment of Aboriginal court assistants, and sensitivity to cultural diversity in court procedures. Papers on the administration of the law with Aboriginal women examine the impact of both racism and sexism in criminal justice processing. Papers on corrections address the importance of community consultation and culturally relevant programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates. The final paper presents guidelines for Aboriginal people in gaining access to the media so as to present more accurate portrayals of Aboriginal society. The concluding section lists recommendations for improving the criminal justice system's management of Aboriginal people in all of the areas discussed at the conference. References accompany the papers. For individual papers, see NCJ 148981-85.