In Courtroom 7The Children's Koori Court at Work: Findings From an Evaluation

• NCJ Number: 237104
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 55 Issue: 7 Dated: October 2011 Pages: 1110-1134
• Author(s): Allan Borowski
• Date Published: October 2011
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article presents an evaluation of the Children's Koori Court (CKC in Australia.

Abstract

This article reports some of the findings of an evaluation of the Children's Koori Court (CKC)the first legislated effort in Australia to involve the Indigenous community in the sentencing of young Aboriginal offenders as a strategy for reducing their overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system. A prominent feature of this court of summary jurisdiction is that the presiding magistrate, while remaining the sentencing authority, is assisted by Aboriginal Elders. This article focuses on the evaluation findings that were derived from observations of the CKC in action. They indicate that the operational objective of cultural responsiveness was realized. They also point to realization of the community-building goalfostering Indigenous ownership of the administration of the law. Little slippage was found between the CKC's design and operation, although some areas of improvement were identified. Nevertheless, the scope for the CKC by itself to significantly reduce overrepresentation is limited. (Published Abstract)