Predictable and preventable

Abstract

Australian prison populations have exploded in recent years, despite a general decline in many reported crimes; during 2015 at least 65,000 people flowed in and out of jail. Aboriginal people were almost three times more likely to have been in out-of-home care as children. Their age of first contact with police was an average of over three years younger than non-Aboriginal people, and they had significantly higher rates of contact with police as both victims and offenders. They were more than twice as likely to have been in juvenile justice custody, had significantly higher numbers and rates of convictions, and had more remand episodes than their non-Aboriginal peers. A large and growing group in the criminal justice system are poor, disadvantaged, and Aboriginal people with disabilities. Guests Professor Eileen Baldry, School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales Credits Presenter: Robyn Williams Producer: Joel Werne