Stuggle for Law - Aboriginal-Police Relations and the Role of the Magistrate's Court - North West New South Wales (From Aborigines and Criminal Justice, P 117-132, 1984, Bruce Swanton, ed. - See NCJ-95993)

• NCJ Number: 95998
• Author(s): C McIldvanie
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This study examines racial attitudes and assumptions among the New South Wales (Australia) police stationed in Aboriginese towns throughout North West, Australia.

Abstract

Particular attention is given to the towns of Moree and Wee Waa. A revolutionary mood exists in Moree, a town with a long history of racial problems, particularly centered in police-Aborigines relations. Aborigines' perception that they are oppressed by the legal power structure has prompted them to act violently. Case studies of violence against the police are recounted, as are instances of police violence against Aborigines in custody. In analyzing existing procedures for investigating citizen deaths that occur while in police custody, the following issues are considered: the suitability of using an inquest to determine the conduct of persons associated with the deaths, the role of the police prosecutor in assembling the evidence presented at the inquest, the magistrate's role in determining the outcome of such an inquiry, and the nature and function of the police. Various attempts to deal with abusive police behavior in Moree and Wee Waa are examined. For other conference papers, see NCJ 95994-97 and 95999.