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Indigenous justice: Key links

This section aims to gather relevant, quality publications and sites on Indigenous people and the criminal justice system in Australia.

The Indigenous justice clearinghouse provides a single entry point to access key information about Indigenous justice issues in Australia. The website includes news, a register of Indigenous justice resources and concise research briefs.

The Australian Government Indigenous portal is a gateway to issues and services.

Closing the gap clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse provides access to a collection of quality information on what works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage.

National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Task Force

The AIC is a participant in the National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Task Force which is led by the Australian Crime Commission. The initiative is resourced by the Commonwealth, states and territories and will see involvement from the Australian Federal Police , state and territory police forces and other agencies.

The objectives of the National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Task Force include:

  • Improving the national coordination of the collection and sharing of information and intelligence on violence and child abuse in remote and urban Indigenous communities.
  • Enhancing the national understanding of the nature and extent of violence and child abuse in remote and urban Indigenous communities.
  • Providing intelligence and other advice to relevant Commonwealth, state and territory organisations on violence and child abuse in remote and urban Indigenous communities, including organised criminal involvement in drugs, alcohol, pornography and fraud.
  • Conducting research into the impact of improved intelligence and information coordination and into the identification of good practice in the prevention, detection and responses to violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities.

Key information, research and data

AIC activities

As well as publishing significant research findings in the field of Indigenous justice, the AIC also undertakes research projects as well as convening conferences and seminars.

Research projects

The objective of Research Services is to conduct research on the extent, nature and prevention of crime in Australia in order to provide timely, policy-relevant advice to the Australian Government and other key clients. The following projects are directly relevant to the task force.

Monitoring programs

The following programs have accumulated significant information and associated data analysis of interest to the task force.

  • National Deaths in Custody Program (NDICP) contains a dataset spanning 25 years with details of every death occurring in prison custody, police custody and custody-related operations, and in juvenile detention facilities across Australia.
  • Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA). This project seeks to measure drug use among those people who have been recently apprehended by police. Data from DUMA includes Indigenous substance abuse and it's relationship to violent crime.
  • National Homicide Monitoring Program (NHMP). This program has been in operation since 1989 and identifies the characteristics of individuals which place them at risk of homicide victimisation and of offending and the circumstances which contribute to the likelihood of a homicide occurring. The program includes comparative studies between Indigenous and non-indigenous homicide.
  • National Police Custody Survey involves the conduct and analysis of the National Police Custody Survey in August 2002.

Online resources

  • The Indigenous justice clearinghouse provides a single entry point to access key information about Indigenous justice issues in Australia. The website includes an online forum, a register of Indigenous justice resources and concise research briefs.
  • Indigenous justice This extensive section of the AIC website brings together relevant, quality information on Indigenous people and the criminal justice system in Australia.

Core data collections

The AIC:

The AIC holds a significant amount of valuable data on Indigenous violence and child abuse, including : Deaths in custody, Juveniles in detention and Homicide. The AIC produces an annual compilation of crime statistics (Australian crime : facts and figures) which includes Indigenous data from several sources. Further data relevant to Indigenous persons, including comparative analysis, is available in the statistics section of this website.

Other significant data collections:

Other key information

A number of significant resources are available from other agencies.

Other key agencies also hold useful information and data, conduct research and advise on policy directly related to Indigenous violence and child abuse.

Recent publications

Recent events

Visit the Indigenous justice clearinghouse website

Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse Seeking Authors

The Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse is inviting expressions of interest for the writing of research briefs and a current initiatives paper on the following topics: (1) Non-custodial and custodial sentencing options for Indigenous women offenders; (2) Promising strategies to reduce Indigenous victimization; (3) Alcohol management plans and other alcohol related reforms; (4) Conducting research with Indigenous communities; (5) Justice Agreements (current initiatives paper).

For more information and Terms of Reference please contact Joanna Lunzer on (02) 8061 9319 or email. The closing date for submissions is Friday 23rd March 2012.

indigenousjustice.gov.au

Section links

AIC work