Inquiry into the high level of involvement of Indigenous juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system Dec 2009

This submission was made to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

The AIATSIS submission to the Inquiry relates to the following three terms of reference:

1. Any initiatives which would improve the effectiveness of the education system in contributing to reducing the levels of involvement of Indigenous juveniles and young adults with the criminal justice system.
2. How the development of social norms and behaviours for Indigenous juveniles and young adults can lead to positive social engagement.
3. Best practice examples of programs that support diversion of Indigenous people from juvenile detention centres and crime, and provide support for those returning from such centres.

In order to demonstrate and reply to the above the main thrust of this submission is providing an example of a successful program on Nowanup Farm, near Albany WA to prevent juveniles who have been brought before a magistrate to stop reoffending.

This program is used as an example which could be produced elsewhere and also indicates how programs of this type are economically efficient and cost far less than incarcerating an individual for a year.