Review of Rehab and Diversion Programs Delivered to Aboriginal Territorians (NS21-0191)

As part of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement the Aboriginal Justice Unit has an aim to reduce offending and imprisonment of Aboriginal Territorians. Part of this is a commitment to increase opportunities for prisoners to participate in high quality programs to reduce reoffending while the Agreement also aims to develop and deliver clear strategies to address trauma, loss and grief among prisoners.
The Agreement’s consultations, and the data available identifies that Aboriginal offenders – both in prison and in the community – need greater support to address the underlying causes of offending and reoffending. Aboriginal people are imprisoned at more than 12 times the rate of non-Aboriginal people. 60% of male prisoners and 53% of female prisoners are held for domestic and family violence related offences. During consultations people said that programs offered in Northern Territory prisons are inadequate or ill-suited to tackle the underlying causes and behaviours of their offending. Many stated the programs did not deal with the trauma, loss and grief often experience by Aboriginal people.
Recognising that Aboriginal women are the fastest growing prison population in the Norther Territory, the consultations and research identified that current programs and services for women are also extremely limited and not suitable. Again they do not adequately address the underlying causes of offending or the trauma, loss and grief experienced by Aboriginal people.
For these reasons it is necessary to review and redesign prison and diversion programs to ensure they are meeting the needs of Aboriginal men and women to address offending behaviour and reduce reoffending in the Northern Territory. High quality programs and access to support services are critical factors to reduce offending.
The Aboriginal Justice Unit wish to utilise the partnership agreement between the NT of Australia and the Charles Darwin University to engage the relevant adjunct Professor to undertake a review into the suitability and accessibility of rehabilitation and diversion programs provided in correctional centres and by contracted service providers. The review needs to provide recommendations to deliver clear strategies to address trauma, loss and grief among prisoners.
The scope of the project will involve (but will not be limited to) a literature review relevant to the Northern Territory, a review of all prison programs, identifying areas necessary to deliver on the outcomes, areas for reform necessary to target domestic and family violence offending and a report on findings regarding best practice programs for rehabilitation and diversion programs in gaol by corrections and service providers.
As part of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement the Aboriginal Justice Unit has an aim to reduce offending and imprisonment of Aboriginal Territorians. Part of this is a commitment to increase opportunities for prisoners to participate in high quality programs to reduce reoffending while the Agreement also aims to develop and deliver clear strategies to address trauma, loss and grief among prisoners.
The Agreement’s consultations, and the data available identifies that Aboriginal offenders – both in prison and in the community – need greater support to address the underlying causes of offending and reoffending. Aboriginal people are imprisoned at more than 12 times the rate of non-Aboriginal people. 60% of male prisoners and 53% of female prisoners are held for domestic and family violence related offences. During consultations people said that programs offered in Northern Territory prisons are inadequate or ill-suited to tackle the underlying causes and behaviours of their offending. Many stated the programs did not deal with the trauma, loss and grief often experience by Aboriginal people.
Recognising that Aboriginal women are the fastest growing prison population in the Norther Territory, the consultations and research identified that current programs and services for women are also extremely limited and not suitable. Again they do not adequately address the underlying causes of offending or the trauma, loss and grief experienced by Aboriginal people.
For these reasons it is necessary to review and redesign prison and diversion programs to ensure they are meeting the needs of Aboriginal men and women to address offending behaviour and reduce reoffending in the Northern Territory. High quality programs and access to support services are critical factors to reduce offending.
The Aboriginal Justice Unit wish to utilise the partnership agreement between the NT of Australia and the Charles Darwin University to engage the relevant adjunct Professor to undertake a review into the suitability and accessibility of rehabilitation and diversion programs provided in correctional centres and by contracted service providers. The review needs to provide recommendations to deliver clear strategies to address trauma, loss and grief among prisoners.
The scope of the project will involve (but will not be limited to) a literature review relevant to the Northern Territory, a review of all prison programs, identifying areas necessary to deliver on the outcomes, areas for reform necessary to target domestic and family violence offending and a report on findings regarding best practice programs for rehabilitation and diversion programs in gaol by corrections and service providers.