NT launches new Aboriginal Justice Unit

The Northern Territory government has launched a new Aboriginal Justice unit to achieve better outcomes for indigenous offenders.

The Northern Territory government has launched a new Aboriginal Justice Unit to ensure better outcomes for indigenous offenders.

Attorney-General Natasha Fyles says the Territory has unacceptably high rates of Indigenous incarceration and re-offending.

Ms Fyles says it's important for the government to listen to Aboriginal Territorians and their experiences with the justice system to realise better outcomes.

It was also in line with a commitment from the Labor government to restore trust, create jobs, invest in children and build safer, fairer and stronger communities.

"To deliver on those commitments, we must listen to Aboriginal Territorians and their experiences with the justice system," Ms Fyles said.

"We know that the Territory has unacceptably high rates of Indigenous incarceration and that re-offending rates are too high.

"Acknowledging that almost 85 per cent of the NT's prison population identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is fundamental to designing procedures and programs that align with world's best practice.

"In particular, this means providing meaningful education and employment opportunities for all prisoners so that we end the revolving door of crime and incarceration and getting people on the right path."

The new justice unit will set out how the government and Aboriginal people will work together within the justice system with a focus on practical solutions to reduce incarceration rates.

To that end, the six-member team will consult widely across the Territory over the next 12 months.


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Source: AAP



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