NCJ Number
226087
Date Published
August 2008
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Using data from all Australian jurisdictions on men incarcerated for violent offenses and released from prison over a 2-year period (n=8,938), this study examined the extent to which Indigenous people reoffended and were returned to prison.
Abstract
Across Australia, Indigenous inmates in this release cohort were more likely (55 percent) than non-Indigenous prisoners (31 percent) to have been readmitted to prison within 2 years of their release. In addition to returning to prison at a higher rate, Indigenous offenders also tended to return to prison sooner. Within 6 months of their release, 25 percent of released Indigenous offenders had been readmitted to prison, twice the percentage of non-Indigenous offenders (12 percent). Indigenous violent offenders were significantly more likely to be readmitted to prison for assault (44 percent) than any other type of offense. Half of the Indigenous prisoners in the study cohort remained in prison until the expiration of their sentences, which makes postrelease support particularly challenging. A key theme from stakeholder consultations for this study was the need to improve support during released inmates’ transition back into the community. Support services should involve both the offender’s family and community resources. This requires an increased capacity to provide supportive services that address released offenders’ needs. Resources are especially scarce in remote settings to which released Indigenous prisoners return. Although a range of Indigenous-specific programs exist in prisons and in the community, including those that target violent offending and substance abuse, there is a need to increase Indigenous offenders’ participation in mainstream services that incorporate cultural elements appropriate for Indigenous offenders. Evaluations of programs and services should include components that specifically measure outcomes for Indigenous offenders. 2 figures, 1 table, and 6 references