NCJ Number
95333
Date Published
1983
Length
36 pages
Annotation
Australian prison trend data and the observations of corrections personnel suggest that the practice of sending Groote Eylandt offenders to prison in Darwin is counterproductive, because it encourages further criminal behavior; recommendations for a Groote Eylandt prison are provided.
Abstract
Groote Eylandt -- a small Northern Territory community with a population of 2,200, of which almost half are Aboriginal -- has an imprisonment rate 7 to 8 times higher than the Northern Territory rate, which itself is more than 3 times the national rate. Many Groote Eylandters have viewed going to prison as a holiday; flying to Darwin, having regular meals, and reestablishing contact with friends and relatives in prison has outweighed any deterrent effect of imprisonment. An analysis of characteristics of Groote Eylanhdt offenders for 1982 and 1983 indicates that they are predominantly young, unmarried, Aboriginal males likely to be unemployed, of low educational achievement, likely to have been in prison previously, probably convicted of property and alcohol offenses, and likely to serve prison terms under 1 year. Recommendations include establishing a medium-security prison offering community-based work opportunities for up to 25 prisoners on Groote Eylandt under the Correctional Services Division of the Department of Community Development, rather than as a police responsibility. The prison site should be negotiated with Aboriginal leaders. In addition, a prison advisory committee should be established, and Groote Eylandters should be recruited and trained as prison officers. Finally, a resident correctional field services officer is needed to establish a community service order program as well as supervise probationers and parolees. A map, tabular data, field notes, and a list of interviewees are provided.