Mick Gooda, Social Justice Commissioner for the Australian Human Rights Commission, has described justice reinvestment as ‘sensible, practical things that can be done on the ground to make communities safer and reduce offending’. What is justice reinvestment, how does it work, and what are some of the ‘sensible, practical things’ proposed?
In March 2010, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, explained the concept of justice reinvestment in a speech titled: “Justice Reinvestment: a new solution to the problem of Indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system’ to the advocacy organisation Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation. According to Gooda, justice reinvestment works effectively …show more content…
An approach to reducing the over-representation of Indigenous children and adults in the criminal justice system (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision, 2009), justice reinvestment requires broader and holistic consideration of what contributes to crime. Over-representation is considered a product of disadvantage which requires intervention at a community wide level (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2009). The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Report Card on Indigenous Health (2015), proposes adopting a justice reinvestment approach to funding services, in order to divert individuals from prison, as a major objective. The AMA, urged all levels of government to act to implement solutions and address the health and justice crisis which significantly impacts 3% of Australia’s …show more content…
Although, traffic violations contribute to the large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in jail, with an estimated 400 to 450 Indigenous offenders serving short sentences for traffic infringements (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2009). The documentary ‘Inside out’, follows the heart-wrenching visit of Uncle Isaac Gordon to Stanley Lord, who awaits the results of a coronial inquest. His son, Stanley junior, died in jail after being imprisoned for driving without a licence, something his father says “was not worth going to jail for.” Although, almost half of offenders caught driving without a licence in Northern NSW have received prison sentences (Code, 2015). A new jail will be required every two years if the current growth in prisoners continues in NSW (Moore, Tadros, & Knox,
In March 2010, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, explained the concept of justice reinvestment in a speech titled: “Justice Reinvestment: a new solution to the problem of Indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system’ to the advocacy organisation Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation. According to Gooda, justice reinvestment works effectively …show more content…
An approach to reducing the over-representation of Indigenous children and adults in the criminal justice system (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision, 2009), justice reinvestment requires broader and holistic consideration of what contributes to crime. Over-representation is considered a product of disadvantage which requires intervention at a community wide level (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2009). The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Report Card on Indigenous Health (2015), proposes adopting a justice reinvestment approach to funding services, in order to divert individuals from prison, as a major objective. The AMA, urged all levels of government to act to implement solutions and address the health and justice crisis which significantly impacts 3% of Australia’s …show more content…
Although, traffic violations contribute to the large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in jail, with an estimated 400 to 450 Indigenous offenders serving short sentences for traffic infringements (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2009). The documentary ‘Inside out’, follows the heart-wrenching visit of Uncle Isaac Gordon to Stanley Lord, who awaits the results of a coronial inquest. His son, Stanley junior, died in jail after being imprisoned for driving without a licence, something his father says “was not worth going to jail for.” Although, almost half of offenders caught driving without a licence in Northern NSW have received prison sentences (Code, 2015). A new jail will be required every two years if the current growth in prisoners continues in NSW (Moore, Tadros, & Knox,