growing segment of the Victorian prison
population
evaluation of AJA2
inadequate service provisions for Koori women in
contact with the criminal justice system.
diversion/strengthen alternatives to imprisonment.
agencies divert Koories from more serious contact with
the criminal justice system and strengthen community-
based alternatives to imprisonment"
divert Koori women from prison".
developed including initiatives under the Better
Pathways program. However, despite these efforts,
there remain few community-based diversion facilities
or initiatives specifically for Koori women. As a result,
the number and proportion of Koori women in prison
has continued to increase with far reaching impacts
on families and communities. Thus addressing
the needs of Koori women remains the unfinished
business of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement.
that have noted the corrosive effects
of imprisonment upon individuals and
communities, as well as the fiscal impact
of a growing population of Koori women
in contact with the criminal justice
system and in prison. There are few
positives to imprisoning Koori women,
and few disadvantages of diversion.
Objective 2. State of Victoria, Department of Justice,
`AJA2', above n 24, 32.