Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

In addition Indigenous people generally are not in control of the design andimplementation of preventive programs for Aboriginal youth. The attention of the Inquirywas drawn to the findings of Wilkie that,[Most] targeted prevention programs have as their primary, stated target young Aboriginaloffenders … Some of the services funded have an almost 100% Aboriginal client population. Yetfew are managed by Aborigines and none are directly controlled by the local Aboriginalcommunity. On the other hand most which cater for Aboriginal young people do not employAboriginal staff (quoted by ALSWA submission 127 on page 194).By and large, the main diversionary schemes in the various States and Territorieshave been introduced without proper negotiation with Indigenous communities andorganisations and without a framework for control by Indigenous organisations wherecommunities desire such control. Often this occurs at the same time as State and Territorygovernments publicly espouse a commitment to self-determination.Juvenile justice policy and program responsesEach State and Territory has developed a range of policy and program responses toaddress the issue of Indigenous over-representation in police custody and detention centrepopulations. The following sections briefly describe the various initiatives available ineach State and Territory.New South WalesThe NSW Government advised the Inquiry that the State’s Police Service has beenparticipating in a whole-of-government approach to the problem of Aboriginal youngpeople in the juvenile justice system. Two areas of relevance to the Inquiry are the PoliceService’s ‘Youth Policy and Action Plan’ and the ‘Aboriginal Policy Statement and anAboriginal Strategic Plan’.The Youth Policy and Action Plan aims to increase the use of alternatives to arrest,restrict the use of courts to a last resort and enhance fair treatment of young people. TheAboriginal Strategic Plan aims to reduce the number of Aboriginal people entering thecriminal justice system and has a number of target policy areas. An advisory mechanism,the Aboriginal Police Council, was established in 1992. There are also 50 AboriginalCommunity Liaison Officers in NSW, four regional Aboriginal co-ordinators and anAboriginal client consultant. In addition there are 147 Aboriginal police officers (NSWGovernment interim submission page 78). An Aboriginal Employment Strategy waslaunched in December 1995 to raise Indigenous employment in the Police Service to 2%or greater.The Department of Juvenile Justice has developed a number of programs forIndigenous young people including the Metropolitan Bail Hostel and the Nardoola BailHostel both of which provide accommodation and supervision for up to six Aboriginal