NCJ Number
226207
Date Published
2006
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This guide assists police officers and police organizations in Australia in reviewing their strategies and tactics for addressing substance abuse, violence, and other offending among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in rural and remote areas.
Abstract
The proposed policing approach in these areas has three general features. First, “strategic policies and programs” require various sectors and jurisdictions to develop coordinated approaches to drug control. Second, “local, district, and regional area planning” focuses on preventing crime and promoting community safety, including the reduction of illicit drug supplies and use. Third, the proposed policing approach emphasizes the importance of “individual police practices.” In the area of strategic policies and programs, police must work with community, district, and regional agencies in joint efforts to build healthy and supportive family environments where children experience positive development. This cooperative effort must also include attention to economic progress for individuals, families, and communities. In the specific area of drug law enforcement, police staff must not only be trained to address the specific needs of rural and remote settlements that underlie substance abuse, but must also recruit and train local residents in police work tailored to the needs of their communities. Regarding local, district, and regional area planning, police must become involved in a cooperative assessment of community needs in interaction with the community, develop a plan of action for addressing identified needs, and monitor the implementation and outcomes of the strategy and tactics. Regarding individual police practices, the focus must be on listening to residents and working with them to improve their quality of life. 3 figures and a listing of resources