The NT Government is seeking feedback about how best to improve Indigenous incarceration rates.
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Recognising there was a need to address the current levels of disadvantage of Indigenous people, the NT Government has partnered up with The Aboriginal Justice Unit to develop the Aboriginal Justice Agreement.
Consultations in remote communities have begun and a public meeting will be held at the Katherine Civic Centre tomorrow at 9am for Katherine residents.
The Aboriginal Justice Agreement is:
- An agreement between government and Indigenous people to work together to improve the lives of IndigenousTerritorians by putting in place Indigenous community-owned and led initiatives that focus on stopping Indigenous people from going or returning to prison.
- A framework for government agencies, in partnership with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Territorians, to address the complex issues that contribute to the disadvantage of Indigenous Territorians.
- An agreement that will recognise, reassert and support traditional leadership to improve the lives of Indigenous people and make communities safer.
The Aboriginal Justice Unit – part of the Department of the Attorney General and Justice – is currently consulting widely with the community.
Driven by the Territory’s Indigenous community, the agreement aims to take up the NT Government’s commitment to reassert local power and increase the role for traditional leadership in our justice system.
The public meetings will be seeking feedback on:
- What measures can the community take, or need assistance with, to prevent Indigenous people offending?
- How can the community and government work together as partners to reduce the number of Indigenous people being imprisoned or detained?
- How can communities reassert local power, and increase the role for traditional leadership and cultural authority in legal matters in the NT justice system?
- How can traditional leadership be used in the decision making processes
Director of the Aboriginal Justice Unit, Leanne Liddle, will be chairing the meeting in Katherine tomorrow.
Events will also be taking place this Friday in Palmerston and Darwin.
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