Newsletter date: 31 August 2013
Contents:
* Let's Talk's Tiga Bayles interviews Gerry Georgatos about Justice Reinvestment and Aboriginal imprisonment
* Greens WA spokesperson on Aboriginal issues, Robin Chapple MLC: Justice reinvestment or more prisons
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Prisoners Justice Day, not enough being done
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Magistrate laments mandatory sentencing laws
* ABC The World Today: Indigenous women the fastest-growing demographic among prisoners: report
* CAAMA Radio: Koori women make up the fastest segment of the states prison population
* Tracker: Jail rate for Koori women doubles in Vic
* VEOHRC: Koori women and prison - understanding the social and economic impact of diversionary programs
* ALS News: First time in 30 years - Considering Aboriginality in Sentencing [Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT]
* AIA: What is Amnesty doing for Indigenous Peoples' rights?
* CAAMA Radio: Tasmanian Aboriginal rights campaigner says locking up young offenders is not the solution
* The Wire: Will Labor's target to reduce Indigenous incarceration work?
* SBS Radio News: 7 months in adult jail for WA children
* ALSWA Supports OICS Banksia Hill Review [Aboriginal Legal Service of WA]
* Amanda Banks, The West Australian: 'Watchdog needed' for Banksia Hill
* The Stringer: Commissioner for Children calls for justice
* CAAMA Radio: Expert challenges historical methods of dealing with Aboriginal people
* Background to Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
* LET'S TALK'S TIGA BAYLES INTERVIEWS GERRY GEORGATOS ABOUT JUSTICE REINVESTMENT AND ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT
- Audio Interview
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - Gerry Georgatos
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
26 Aug 13: "Human Rights Advocate, Editor of 'The Stringer' and Senate Candidate for the WikiLeaks Party"
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/gerry-georgatos-14/
* GREENS WA SPOKESPERSON ON ABORIGINAL ISSUES, ROBIN CHAPPLE MLC: JUSTICE REINVESTMENT OR MORE PRISONS
- Analysis / Opinion
Greens WA spokesperson on Aboriginal issues, Robin Chapple MLC: Justice reinvestment or more prisons
Greens Urge Minister to Make Good on Justice Reinvestment
http://www.robinchapple.com/justice-reinvestment-or-more-prisons
26 Aug 13: "Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam and Greens WA spokesperson on Aboriginal issues, Robin Chapple MLC, have today lamented the slide back into the old tough-on-crime rhetoric by Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis.
Senator Ludlam said "After a promising start, with statements heralding a fresh approach to the problem of WA’s increasing prison population, we now find the Minister claiming bragging rights over how much the Barnett/Grylls government has spent on prison capital works. ... "
Mr Chapple continued, "We know that there has to be a better way – not this incessant treadmill of finger-pointing and blame-shifting – where the inevitable outcome is our state’s scandalous reputation for shockingly high rates of incarceration among aboriginal people. ... ""
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: PRISONERS JUSTICE DAY, NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Prisoners Justice Day, not enough being done
http://thestringer.com.au/prisoners-justice-day-not-enough-being-done/
24 Aug 13: "International Prisoners Day is held in many of the world’s Western nations but it holds increasing significance for Australia’s Aboriginal peoples who are incarcerated at the world’s highest rates. ... Prison reform academic, Dr Brian Steels, who is also an executive of the International Restorative Justice Network, said that the Australian prisons system is "a penal estate which is harsh on prisoners." He said that Aboriginal prisoners are harmed further by the prison experience and which in turn leads to their endemic poverty, high suicide rates and high re-offending rates." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: MAGISTRATE LAMENTS MANDATORY SENTENCING LAWS
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Magistrate laments mandatory sentencing laws
http://thestringer.com.au/magistrate-laments-mandatory-sentencing-laws/
24 Aug 13: "Mandatory sentencing laws have taken away the discretion of magistrates to recourse individuals to non-custodial programs and sentences they deem are without risk to society. With Aboriginal people sentenced at record rates in Western Australia, a Kalgoorlie magistrate lamented during her findings the blight of mandatory sentencing laws. ... Magistrate Zempilas delivered the mandatory six-month prison sentence. She said that if should could have she would have imposed a lesser sentence but lamented that she was not able to do so." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* ABC THE WORLD TODAY: INDIGENOUS WOMEN THE FASTEST-GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC AMONG PRISONERS: REPORT
- Audio
ABC The World Today with Eleanor Hall: Indigenous women the fastest-growing demographic among prisoners: report
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-19/indigenous-women-the-fastest-growi...
19 Aug 13: "A report released today has found that indigenous women are the fastest growing group of Victorian prisoners, and 80 per cent of them are mothers. The Victorian Human Rights Commission is urging governments around Australia to set up diversionary programs to address the high incarceration rate. Samantha Donovan ... A new report being released today by the Victorian Human Rights Commission shows just how bad the problem is."
* CAAMA RADIO: KOORI WOMEN MAKE UP THE FASTEST SEGMENT OF THE STATES PRISON POPULATION
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Koori women make up the fastest segment of the states prison population
http://caama.com.au/koori-women-make-up-the-fastest-segment-of-the-state...
26 Aug 13: "The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has recently completed research into the experiences of Koori women and the justice system. The study found that Koori women in Victoria make up the fastest segment of the states prison population; 80% of the women were mothers and many had grown up experiencing violence, sexual abuse and inter-generational trauma. Chris Humphreys, Victoria’s Acting Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner says that in order to change the cycle Koori women find themselves in, you have to have in place effective programs that meet their needs. ... "
* TRACKER: JAIL RATE FOR KOORI WOMEN DOUBLES IN VIC
- News
newsTracker: Jail rate for Koori women doubles in Vic
http://tracker.org.au/2013/08/jail-rate-for-koori-women-doubles-in-vic/
20 Aug 13: "VICTORIA: The number of Koori women in Victorian jails has doubled and the problem will only get worse without appropriate diversionary programs, the state’s human rights commissioner says. Twice as many Koori women are in prison - 28 - compared to five years ago, a Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission report says. Acting commissioner Chris Humphreys said the numbers were growing rapidly but could be reduced with appropriate programs." AAP
* VEOHRC: KOORI WOMEN AND PRISON - UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS
- Report
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission: Koori women and prison - understanding the social and economic impact of diversionary programs
http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php/our-projects-a-ini...
"The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has recently completed research into the experiences of Koori women and the justice system. ... The research also found that in 2012, 80 per cent of Koori women entering Victorian prisons were mothers. A high proportion of Koori women prisoners were themselves clients of child protection services as children. Many now have their children in informal or formal out-of-home care. The report entitled Unfinished business: Koori women and the justice system is now available."
* ALS NEWS: FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS - CONSIDERING ABORIGINALITY IN SENTENCING
- News
Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT): ALS News: First time in 30 years - Considering Aboriginality in Sentencing
http://www.alsnswact.org.au/news_items/91
5 Aug 13: "Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) is representing Mr William Bugmy, an Aboriginal man from Wilcannia NSW, who has experienced a life radically different from members of mainstream Australia. ... Central to the Aboriginal Legal Service arguments is the contention that the effects of social deprivation can worsen over time, particularly for Aboriginal people from remote disadvantaged communities subject to frequent jailing. ... The ALS welcomes the consideration of the High Court on this matter on behalf of Mr Bugmy. ... "
* AIA: WHAT IS AMNESTY DOING FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' RIGHTS?
- News
Amnesty International Australia: What is Amnesty doing for Indigenous Peoples’ rights?
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/32460/
9 Aug 13: "Australia: The situation: ...
Some issues include:
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples facing widespread and systemic disadvantage and discrimination
* families being forced to choose between continuing to live on their traditional ancestral lands and having access to services
* Indigenous youths making up 58% of the total national juvenile incarceration rates - despite Indigenous Peoples as a whole making up only 2.5% of the population."
* CAAMA RADIO: TASMANIAN ABORIGINAL RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER SAYS LOCKING UP YOUNG OFFENDERS IS NOT THE SOLUTION
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Tasmanian Aboriginal rights campaigner says locking up young offenders is not the solution
http://caama.com.au/tasmanian-aboriginal-rights-campaigner-says-locking-...
15 Aug 13: "It has been reported that Aboriginal people being held in some Western Australian police lock ups are being denied access to legal advice. Rodney Dillion an Amnesty International Indigenous Rights Campaigner has been raising the issue of Aboriginal incarceration rates in Western Australia for some time. He says there needs to be diversionary programs in place to avoid locking up young offenders. "Once they get to those centres, it’s almost too late. There needs to be good diversionary programs for those young kids before they get in that system.""
* THE WIRE: WILL LABOR'S TARGET TO REDUCE INDIGENOUS INCARCERATION WORK?
- Audio
The Wire: Will Labor's target to reduce Indigenous incarceration work?
Produced by Hannah Sinclair
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10683
13 Aug 13: "There's a Closing the Gap target for employment, health and mortality rates. Now a new target for Indigenous justice reform will be developed under the Labor government. Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin says the target will tackle the high rates of Indigenous contact with the criminal justice system. But some Aboriginal legal advocates are questioning whether a target is the right way to achieve real change. Some say the government must follow through with funding for specific programs that prevent Indigenous people from involvement with the criminal justice system in the first place. ...
Featured in story:
* Indigenous Social Justice Association President, Ray Jackson
* Justice Reinvestment Campaign for Aboriginal Young People, Gino Vumbaca
* North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) CEO Priscilla Collins
* Amnesty International Indigenous Liason Officer, Rodney Dillon "
* SBS RADIO NEWS: 7 MONTHS IN ADULT JAIL FOR WA CHILDREN
- Audio
SBS Radio News: 7 months in adult jail for WA children
By Ryan Emery
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/285937/7-month...
29 Aug 13: "Youth justice advocates have long called for a better approach to reducing the number of children and teenagers incarcerated under WA's justice system - part 1. ... In an adult jail in Western Australia, it's claimed children and teenagers are locked in their cells for up to 20 hours every day. It's been like this for months. ... In part one of a special two-part series, Ryan Emery looks at the state of Western Australia's youth justice. It's late January and months of frustration have boiled over. ... "
* ALSWA SUPPORTS OICS BANKSIA HILL REVIEW
- Media Statement
Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia: ALSWA Supports OICS Banksia Hill Review
http://www.als.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=287:a...
9 Aug 13: "ALSWA Supports OICS Banksia Hill Review and urges State Government to address crisis ...
The Banksia Hill incident in January 2013 and subsequent Report of the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (the Office) provides further evidence that the Western Australian youth justice system is in a serious state of crisis, according to the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA).
"The Inspector’s report is damning of the custodial regime that has been in place since this incident and ALSWA endorses the report and strongly supports its recommendations" said ALSWA CEO Dennis Eggington.
"The State Government must commit to the reform of the juvenile justice system, because the current system has clearly failed. It’s not just the poor treatment and conditions of the young detainees, but the fact that WA has the second highest rate of juvenile detention of any jurisdiction in the nation, at almost twice the national average" said Mr. Eggington.
ALSWA said that WA also had the highest rate of Aboriginal juvenile incarceration in the nation, adding to these already disgraceful figures. ... "
* AMANDA BANKS, THE WEST AUSTRALIAN: 'WATCHDOG NEEDED' FOR BANKSIA HILL
- Analysis / Opinion
The West Australian: 'Watchdog needed' for Banksia Hill
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/18587040/watchdog-needed-f...
21 Aug 13: "An independent watchdog needs to be appointed to oversee the return of juveniles to the Banksia Hill detention centre, the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People says. Seven months to the day after children were transferred to Hakea Prison after a riot trashed the State's only detention centre for juveniles, Michelle Scott yesterday raised concerns that there were no plans to improve rehabilitation programs at Banksia Hill." Amanda Banks, Legal Affairs Editor, The West Australian
* THE STRINGER: COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN CALLS FOR JUSTICE
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Commissioner for Children calls for justice
http://thestringer.com.au/commissioner-for-children-calls-for-justice/
24 Aug 13: "Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People has called for the "urgent need" for reform in the juvenile justice system. WA detains children, not only at the nation’s highest rate but for its Aboriginal youth detains them among the world’s highest rates. Commissioner Scott said that there should great concern "that the number of young people in detention in WA continues to remain higher than in most other States, and despite clear signs of stress in the system, it has taken a serious incident at the Banksia Hill detention centre this year to bring the major deficiencies to attention.""
* CAAMA RADIO: EXPERT CHALLENGES HISTORICAL METHODS OF DEALING WITH ABORIGINAL PEOPLE
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Expert challenges historical methods of dealing with Aboriginal people
http://caama.com.au/expert-challenges-historical-methods-of-dealing-with...
29 Aug 13: "An internationally recognised Queensland based criminologist says the dated cultural understanding of ‘Aboriginality’ in Australia, has helped to create an unfair system of dealing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the criminal justice system. Professor Chris Cunneen at James Cook University is a leading criminologist specialising in Indigenous people, and the law. Cunneen comments come from a recent discussion paper where both historical and current methods of governing through crime, have meant that any attempt to reduce Aboriginal and Islander imprisonment rates, has become increasingly insignificant. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO JUSTICE REINVESTMENT, ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
Last updated: 24 August 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
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