The ACT Government's commitment to reducing the stark over-representation of First Nations people in the justice system has prompted the announcement of an Independent Review.
The Productivity Commission’s 2023 Report on Government Services showed a crude imprisonment rate of 1,770 per 100,000 adult population for First Nations peoples in the ACT in 2021-22, in contrast to the rate of 86.5 per 100,000 for the non-Indigenous adult population.
Given that First Nations people are disproportionately represented in the ACT criminal justice system, the Government decided to engage a First Nations led-independent consultancy and seek recommendations for practical measures to reduce over-representation rates.
According to the 2021 Census, First Nations individuals comprised about 2 per cent of the ACT's population, however, in 2021-22 they accounted for 25 per cent of the prison population, highlighting an urgent need for intervention.
To address the pressing issue of over-representation in the criminal justice system, the Government has set goals which include:
Independent Review
Recognising the importance of a comprehensive and impartial examination, the ACT Government has commissioned the Jumbunna Institute, University of Technology Sydney to undertake an Independent Review of First Nations over-representation in the ACT criminal justice system.
The Review will be led by Professor Lindon Coombes, a descendant of the Yuallaraay people of north-west NSW. Professor Coombes heads up a distinguished team of First Nations and non-First Nations researchers with diverse experience in justice related issues and with community development in a justice context. Jumbunna also brings with it extensive experience in consulting and directly collaborating with First Nations communities and organisations.
The Independent Review’s terms of reference can be found here.
The Independent Review will:
- examine factors driving over-representation in the ACT
- focus on the recommendations relevant to the ACT made in the Australian Law Reform Commission's Pathways to Justice – Incarceration Rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples report
- assess the extent to which the ACT Government has implemented the measures recommended in the ALRC report
- make additional recommendations for action, considering practical measures that can appreciably impact over-representation rates of First Nations people in the ACT.
Jumbunna will work closely with First Nations people in the ACT and will engage with those who have lived experience (including young people) within the ACT criminal justice system.
Jumbunna will provide a first report assessing the extent to which the ACT Government has implemented the measures recommended in the ALRC Report in May 2024.
The final report of the Independent Review will be delivered to the ACT Government in late 2024.
Jumbunna have commenced their review and are seeking initial input from anyone who is interested. They have prepared a short paper which includes more information about what they are doing and some questions. The paper is available here. Jumbunna have requested feedback by 10 May 2024.
