NCJ Number
139947
Journal
Current Issues in Criminal Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: special issue (March 1992) Pages: 351-355
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in New South Wales, Western Australia, and Victoria was established in 1987, and its first major report raised serious concerns about the level of aboriginal imprisonment.
Abstract
Between 1987 and 1991, there was a dramatic increase in the level of imprisonment of aboriginal people. New South Wales had the greatest increase, with an 80-percent rise in the number of aboriginal prisoners, and also the highest increase in real numbers from 369 to 664. Victoria recorded a 75-percent increase during the period, while Western Australia experienced a 24-percent increase. The number of aboriginal women in prison in all Australian jurisdictions rose from 78 in the 1987 prison census to 127 in the 1991 census. This change represented a 63-percent increase in the imprisonment of aboriginal women during the 4-year period. New South Wales was the major contributor to the national increase in aboriginal women imprisoned. The Royal Commission noted that proportionately more aboriginal people were sentenced to imprisonment for less serious offenses. Reasons for the increase in aboriginal imprisonment are offered that focus on the reintroduction of penal provisions for minor public order offenses with the Summary Offences Act of 1988, the use of imprisonment for less serious offenses instead of community-based options, the more widespread increase in penalties for certain offenses under the New South Wales Crimes Act, and the Sentencing Act of 1989. 4 footnotes and 3 tables