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A recent study by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research found that ahigher rate of Indigenous offenders were sent to prison than non-Indigenousoffenders because of a higher rate of conviction for violent crime and higher rate ofre-offending (Snowball and Weatherburn 2006).One of the major factors highlighted by the WA Department of Justice (2002a) wasthat the early involvement of Aboriginal juveniles in the criminal justice system waslikely to place them at significantly greater risk of imprisonment as adults. Lynch,Buckman and Krenske (2003) reported that Indigenous juvenile offenders weremore likely than non-Indigenous juvenile offenders to progress to the adult criminaljustice system and end up in prison. The study found that 86 per cent of Indigenousjuvenile offenders entered the adult correction system, with 65 per cent of themserving at least one prison term. For non-Indigenous juvenile offenders, 75 per cententered the adult correction system with 41 per cent of them serving at least oneprison term.The 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody stated that changesto the operation of the criminal justice system alone will not have a significantimpact on the number of Indigenous people entering custody (RCIADIC 1991).Nevertheless, there has been some success in reducing the reoffending rates ofIndigenous people by implementing culturally appropriate justice practices.Boxes 3.12.2, 3.12.3 and 3.12.4 describe the success of the Koori Courts inVictoria, Nunga Courts in SA and Murri Courts in Queensland, respectively.Box 3.12.2 ‘Things that work’ — Culturally appropriate justice practicesfor Indigenous people in VictoriaIn 2005, The Australian Institute of Criminology awarded the Shepparton Koori Courtthe Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award for their successful operation of aspecial sentencing court for Indigenous offenders. This specialised court within theMagistrates Court created an informal atmosphere which allowed greater participationof the Koori Community (that is, the Koori Elder, the Aboriginal Justice Worker andmembers of the offender’s family) in the sentencing process and support programs.Shepparton was chosen as one of the two sites for the two-year pilot program becauseit has the largest Koori population outside of metropolitan Melbourne. The success ofthe pilots at Shepparton and Broadmeadows paved the way for Koori Courts tobecome a permanent part of the Victorian justice system. Koori Courts have now alsobeen established in Warrnambool, Mildura, the La Trobe Valley and Bairnsdale, withanother planned for Swan Hill. There is also a Koori Children’s Court in Melbourne andanother is scheduled to open in Mildura.(Continued next page)122