Part 2 – Indigenous Australians & CJS – a snapshot of over-representation

Following on with part 1 of our post into the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) this post briefly delves into the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) possible causes, the sentencing statistics and sentencing guidelines.

It was been reported that between 1990 and 1995 Indigenous people were 16.5 times more likely than non-indigenous people to die in custody. AND The rate of death for Indigenous women in custody was higher than the corresponding rate for Indigenous men.

The RCIADIC report (1991) underscored both historical factors along with, both internal and external factors contributing to the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.  

These included: –

1. The legacy of colonisation
2. The imposition of an alien law upon the Indigenous population
3. The non-recognition of Indigenous laws and their customary justice mechanisms, resulting in the past practices of criminalisation of the Indigenous people
4. The procreation of violence upon the Indigenous people in the name of justice and prior legal policies
5. The role of police in the oppression of Indigenous people. The police force was historically in charge of controlling the indigenous population by imposing sanctions and punishment and were an instrumental force used in the removal of children in the early colonial days and later the so-called protection legislation (see Aboriginal Protection Act 1909), which set up a category of race and made laws for the removal and regulation of Indigenous people forcing them to live in either missions or government reserves.
6. Systemic causes like their unequal position in society, the propensity of the poverty factor in their lives, their higher rates of unemployment, their drug and alcohol related issues and the Stolen Generation effects and associated trauma suffered by many Indigenous people.

Sentencing Statistics

Given the above factors when looking at the sentencing statistics it may be argued that we still have not put mechanisms in place to understand and mitigate these known factors. As the statistics reveal that Indigenous Australians are over still four (4) times more likely to be arrested than white Australians. This figure equates to 28.6% of the Indigenous population appearing in court.[1]

More importantly, figures reveal that Indigenous Australians received a custodial sentence 16 times more often than their non-indigenous counterparts in NSW.[2]

AND More alarmingly, their figures also reveal that when Indigenous women are sentenced, they are 18 times more likely to receive a custodial sentence than women in the general population.[3]

Alarming as the above figures are, some say we have at least recognised and implemented some sentencing guidelines to account for the RCIADIC revealed factors.

Sentencing practices

The well-known case of Bugmy v R[4] is the case in question where it is been said by some to have given Indigenous people recognition of past adversity whilst introducing some added relevant sentencing principles. However, this is not the case.

In brief the Bugmy case held that an offender’s background of deprivation is a relevant factor when determining an appropriate sentence for that offender.

However, the Court applied a race-neutral approach, stating that the deprived background of an Aboriginal offender may mitigate the sentence appropriate for an offence, just as the deprived background of a non-Aboriginal offender may mitigate that offender’s sentence.

So, this case ultimately recognised deprived backgrounds BUT does not address the historical context of colonisation that was recognised in the RCIADIC or the adverse effects of the same that would not be present in a non-indigenous person generational background. In fact, Bugmy completely rejected that notion. It simply reinforces a long-standing legal principle that the circumstances of someone’s background – regardless of their race – must be given proper weight at sentencing by the Court.

So even after the RCIADIC, the known causes, the plight at sentencing and the real danger of a death in custody we still it seems have not being able to stop the high rate of Indigenous people coming into contact with the criminal justice system or their over-representation in Australia’s prisons. 

Since the RCIADIC report in 1991 there has been a further 432 Aboriginal deaths in custody.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a criminal offence contact Rep-Revive Criminal & Employment Lawyers ® for a free initial consultation.  

Reference Source

[1] Weatherburn, D., Lind, B., & Hua, J. (2003). Contact with the New South Wales Court and Prison Systems: The Influence of Age, Indigenous Status and Gender. Contact with the New South Wales Court and Prison Systems: 12, 4.

[2] Ibid 7.

[3] Ibid 4.

[4] (2013) 302 ALR 192.