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| Young Aborigines Hit Hard by Punitive Bail and Sentencing Laws |
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1 July, 2009
Figures released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) showing that between 2007 and 2008, the juvenile remand population in New South Wales (NSW) grew by 32 per cent, from an average of 181 per day to 239 per day, demonstrate that the government’s punitive bail and sentencing laws are seeing many more young people thrown into juvenile gaols and for longer periods.
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The BOCSAR figures come on the back of other figures obtained through parliamentary questions by Sylvia Hale, the NSW Greens MP and Juvenile Justice spokesperson, showing that the number of Aboriginal young people detained in NSW Juvenile Detention Centres has increased by 38% in 5 years. This has seen the proportion of sentenced detainees who are Aboriginal increase from 48.8% to 56.3% between 2003-04 and 2007-08. In 1993 Aboriginal young people made up only 27.8% of all inmates. The latest figures from the Department of Corrective Services show Aboriginal adults comprise around 22% of the population of adult prisons, less than half the proportion in juvenile centres.
“The government’s punitive law and order policies systemically discriminate against Aboriginal young people and entrench Aboriginal disadvantage. It is nothing short of appalling that the disproportional rate at which Aboriginal young people are detained is getting worse not better, and at such a rapid rate that it has increased from less than a third to more than half during the life of this Labor government,” Ms Hale said.
“This has been a complete policy failure by a Labor government that talks about its commitment to justice and equality for Aboriginal people but has delivered the exact opposite.”
“The NSW Labor government has not only shown little commitment to implementing policies aimed at reducing the disproportionate rate of Aboriginal detention, it has actively introduced and pursued policies that entrench Aboriginal disadvantage,” Ms Hale said.
The figures also show that the total number of juveniles on remand because they could not meet their bail conditions increased from 479 to 928 in the same five year period and front line staff numbers have not kept pace with increases in inmate numbers. The Minister for Juvenile Justice conceded that the number of assaults in juvenile justice centres has risen as inmate numbers have increased. |
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