Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise only 3 per cent of the Australian population, but make up 28 per cent of the total prison population and are imprisoned at a rate 14 times higher than other Australians. They are also much more likely to be victims of crime.

Justice Reinvestment is a circuit-breaker. It is data driven, fiscally sound and empowers communities to addresses the underlying causes of crime.

Trisha’s story is one of success and highlights the need for Justice Reinvestment.

Together we must convince government to set targets to reduce incarceration and to support the implementation of justice reinvestment in Australia.

Take Action Here:
https://antar.org.au/campaigns/justice-campaign…

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It’s time for a new approach to Justice – Dale’s Story

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise only 3 per cent of the Australian population, but make up around 28 per cent of the total prison population and are imprisoned at a rate 14 times higher than other Australians. They are also much more likely to be victims of crime.

Justice Reinvestment is a circuit-breaker. It is data driven, fiscally sound and empowers communities to address the underlying causes of crime.

Dale’s story highlights the cost of locking people up and the power of community to provide alternative pathways.

Together we must convince government to set targets to reduce incarceration and to support the implementation of justice reinvestment in Australia.

Take Action:
https://antar.org.au/campaigns/justice-campaign…

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Community KidsIn one month, our state and federal leaders will meet to discuss the issues most pressing for a peaceful, prosperous Australia.

Make sure that the over-representation of Indigenous kids behind bars is high on their agenda > http://amn.st/6186Bu97n

For kids, community is everything. It’s kids’ connections with family and community that lets them flourish, and sets them up for life. Belonging matters and communities provide it.

But our government is separating Indigenous kids from their communities. Kids as young as 10 are being locked up, all across Australia.

If you’re an Indigenous kid, you are 24 times more likely to be locked up than your non-Indigenous classmates.

Fortunately, Indigenous people have the solutions — community-led programs that support kids, and if they get in trouble, help them address the reasons why. Now we need our government to support these solutions too.

http://amn.st/6186Bu97n

‪#‎CommunityIsEverything‬ ‪#‎ChangeTheRecord‬ ‪#‎Indigenous

Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda explains what Justice Reinvestment is and why it’s a positive solution in addressing the over incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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Today National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS), the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) has welcomed Labor’s commitment to addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates and experiences of violence.

In a speech delivered at the University of Melbourne Law School, Labor Leader Mr Shorten, vowed to put an end to the “grievous national shame” of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment and experiences of violence. The speech included a number of specific commitments including establishing justice targets through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) under a Labor government.

NATSILS Chairperson Shane Duffy said, “A commitment to targets for addressing the “justice gap” means that governments will be accountable for their performance in this area. We simply must work together in a co-ordinated way to address this critical issue.”

“As Chairperson of NATSILS we were particularly pleased to hear Mr Shorten commit to the appropriate resourcing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled legal services, including ATSILS and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS). These legal services are crucial to ensuring that vulnerable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly women and children escaping family violence, are able to receive access to justice, Mr Duffy said.

“We also welcome Mr Shorten’s acknowledgement of the role that disability plays in the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system. Recent research shows that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with mental illnesses and cognitive impairments experience a criminal, rather than a therapeutic response to their disabilities.”

“NATSILS will continue to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and all levels of government to address the crisis of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment and experiences of violence. We call on the Australian public to join us in demanding vital change and ask that all levels of government work with us to address this critical issue.”

Media Release:
http://www.natsils.org.au/portals/natsils/NATSILS%20welcomes%20Labor%20commitment%20to%20closing%20the%20justice%20gap%20FINAL.pdf?ver=2015-11-19-131301-867

 

Change the Record

Countless reports have highlighted that we are at risk of losing another generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the justice system – but the momentum for change is building. The Change the Record Coalition today welcomed a commitment by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten MP to close the justice gap, and emphasised the need for all levels of government to work together to address this crisis.

In a speech to University of Melbourne Law School, Mr Shorten vowed to tackle the justice gap by investing in solutions driven by local communities. Mr Shorten said that the first meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) under a Labor Government would work with state and local governments, law enforcement agencies, corrections, community services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and representative bodies to develop justice targets

Co-Chair Shane Duffy said, “We have long-argued that all governments working together through COAG to develop justice targets is critical to achieving change in this area, and so we welcome Labor’s commitment. Measurable targets aimed at reducing imprisonment rates, and the experience of violence, would provide an important accountability mechanism and drive co-ordinated action to address these issues.”

“Community-controlled organisations, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS), play a unique and critical role in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait families and communities in a culturally safe environment. Mr Shorten’s acknowledgment of this is important, as is his commitment to ensure these services are adequately funded into the future” said Mr Duffy.
Read Full Media Release:
https://changetherecord.org.au/blog/news/momentum-for-change-is-building

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ATSILS Media Release In the early hours of Tuesday morning (local time) Australia’s human rights record will be examined before the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva as part of its second “Universal Periodic Review” (UPR). As the world turns its attention to Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd urges the Australian government to strengthen its commitment and action to address the nation’s unacceptable record of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment.

ATSILS CEO, Shane Duffy said, “First Nations Australians are amongst the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the country. Currently our people are being imprisoned at around 13 times the rate of non Indigenous Australians and year after year the gap continues to widen. It reached crisis point long ago and remains one of the biggest human rights challenges facing the country.”

Read Full Media Release
https://atsils.org.au/…/mediarelease_ATSILS_UPR_0911201…/

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ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy on LatelineLateline’s Emma Alberici speaks with Change the Record Coalition Co-Chair & ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy and asks him what needs to be done to address the issue of Indigenous mental health, access to appropriate services and the links to over-representation of our people in the criminal justice system.

Watch the full interview here:
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4344050.htm

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In his role as Co – Chair – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services & Change The Record Coalition, our CEO Shane Duffy speaks to Australasian Lawyer about the call for a new approach to Indigenous incarceration.

“The policing methodology in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this country has been more about ‘lock them up and throw away the key’. We continuously see governments winning elections based off law and order agendas and incarcerations. What we need to do is look at a new, smarter approach to ensuring we have safer communities across the country.” – Shane Duffy, Co – Chair – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services & Change The Record Coalition

Read Full Article Here:
http://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/experts-call-for-new-approach-to-indigenous-incarceration-207789.aspx#.VjgTOnE73mI.twitter

See Lateline’s full interview with ATSILS CEO Shane Duffy at the link below.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2015/s4344050.htm

These are the smarter solutions we are campaigning for:
https://changetherecord.org.au/solutions

Pledge your support to ‪#‎ChangeTheRecord‬ on violence and imprisonment rates today –> http://www.changetherecord.org.au/pledge