Rehabilitative needs and treatment of Indigenous offenders in ...

are more likely to have been admitted to hospital within the previous 12months; are more likely to be hospitalised for a mental or behavioural disorder; are more likely to abstain from alcohol in the last 12 months, but alsomore likely consume alcohol at risky levels; have a higher unemployment rate; are fives times more likely to live in an over-crowded household; have children subject to child protection orders; are nine to ten times more likely to have a domestic violence orderimposed; and are eight times more likely to have been charged by the police.Other research shows significant disparity between the gross median incomesfor Indigenous persons compared with non-Indigenous persons (AustralianBureau of Statistics [ABS] 2006). One in every two Indigenous householdsreceives some form of government housing assistance (such as publichousing or rent assistance), in addition to which Indigenous people are overrepresentedin homeless rates (Chamberlain & Mackenzie 2009; AIHW 2008).Indigenous persons are also more likely to be victims of violence than thegeneral population. Moreover, the severity of violence experienced byIndigenous persons is greater than that experienced by non-Indigenousvictims (Bryant 2009).Many of the factors outlined above are known risk factors for participation incrime. These risk factors include poor socio-economic status, socialdisconnectedness, misuse of substances, previous involvement in crime,exposure to physical and sexual abuse, poor education and lack of suitablehousing. There is a clear need for a multi-faceted, multi-agency response toIndigenous rehabilitation. Building healthy Indigenous communities willfacilitate the successful reintegration of Indigenous offenders once they leavecustody, while also reducing the likelihood of Indigenous people commencinga criminal trajectory. Closing the social and economic gap betweenIndigenous and non-Indigenous offenders is critical in reducing the overrepresentationof Indigenous persons in the criminal justice system.16