offending is decreasing
of imprisonment even though the rate of crime is
actually decreasing. As noted by the Senate Standing
Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs References
Committee,
escalation in our prison population?
to the increasing rate of imprisonment include changes
to justice policies and practices, such as more
stringent bail conditions. "There are also underlying
economic and social determinants which contribute to
criminal behaviour and thus bring people into contact
with a more punitive criminal justice system."
that the causes of the over-representation of
Koori women in Victorian prisons are complex
and interrelated. These include complex
personal histories that drive offending, including
homelessness, mental illness, drug and alcohol
dependence experiences of intergenerational
trauma, sexual abuse and family violence.
Parliament of Australia, `Report into Justice
Reinvestment', above n 34, 6.
See for example, Eileen Baldry, Jackie Ruddock and
Jo Taylor, Aboriginal Women with Dependent Children
Leaving Prison Project: Needs Analysis Report (2008).
environmental and locational factors, disadvantage
and marginalisation also contribute to the over-
representation of Koories in the criminal justice
system.
prison population was in prison for offences
against the person, the most common of which
were robbery and extortion (21 per cent) and
assault (17 per cent). Thirty-four per cent were
in prison for burglary, fraud, and other property
related offences. As Figure 4 below illustrates,
although the numbers are small, the proportion
of Koori women in prison for offences against the
person is higher than that for non-Koori women,
and lower for property offences.
drug offences despite a high proportion of Koori
women in prison being identified as substance
dependent.
the need to support an addiction.
See for example, Chris Cunneen and the Aboriginal
Justice Advisory Council, NSW Aboriginal Justice Plan,
Discussion Paper (2002); Human Rights and Equal
Opportunity Commission, Social Justice Report 2002:
Report of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Social Justice Commissioner (2002); Human Rights
and Equal Opportunity Commission, Social Justice
Report 2004: Report of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Social Justice Commissioner (2005).
State of Victoria, Corrections Victoria, `Indigenous
Offenders and Prisoners Data Report to the July 2013
AJF' above n 1.
State of Victoria, Department of Justice, Justice Health,
`Koori Prisoner Mental Health', above n 7.
to Aboriginal Justice Forum 18-19 July 2013).