NCJ Number
66943
Journal
AUSTRALIAN CHILD AND FAMILY WELFARE Volume: 3 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 43-49
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN AUSTRALIAN SYMPOSIUM CONVENED TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS RELATING TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR ABORIGINAL JUVENILES IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
THE SYMPOSIUM MET IN JUNE 1977 IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED KEY STATE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS FOR ABORIGINAL JUVENILES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ABORIGINALS WORKING IN SUCH AREAS AS PROBATION AND PAROLE, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS. DATA SEEMS TO INDICATE, THAT IN COMPARISON TO THE NON-ABORIGINAL POPULATION, ABORIGINAL JUVENILES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE CHARGED WITH AN OFFENSE, TO BE CONVICTED, AND TO BE COMMITTED TO A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. ALSO, RECIDIVISM RATES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR THESE JUVENILES. DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIOCULTURAL, ATTITUDINAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PHENOMENON. THE REPORT CITES VARIOUS APPROACHES OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM, INCLUDING PREVENTIVE (LONG-TERM) AND CURATIVE (SHORT-TERM) METHODS. THE SYMPOSIUM EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE MUST CONTINUE TO BE EMPHASIZED AND THAT ABORIGINAL JUVENILES FROM TRIBAL-ORIENTED AND TRADITION-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES WHO REQUIRE CORRETIVE CARE AND TREATMENT SHOULD NOT BE PHYSICALLY SEPERATED FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE SYMPOSIUM ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF ABORIGINAL JUVENILES MUST BE RECOGNIZED IN PROVIDING THEM INSTITUTIONAL CARE. UNDERLYING DISCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THE SYMPOSIUM WAS THE RECOGNITION THAT ABORIGINAL PEOPLE A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN ANY PROGRAM CONCERNED WITH THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)