THE rate of imprisonment for indigenous Australians has jumped by more than 50 per cent in the past decade with inmates now making up a quarter of the prison population, latest figures show.
The report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found the rate increased from 1248 per 100,000 adults jailed in 2000 to 1892 per 100,000 in 2010.

There are almost 7600 indigenous Australians in prisons nationwide making up 26 per cent of the prison population despite representing just 2.5 per cent of Australia’s total population.

"The rate of incarceration is relatively high among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," the report said.

"This not only affects the health and wellbeing of those imprisoned, but also of their families and children.

"No such increase was noted among non-indigenous adults."


In Western Australia and South Australia, indigenous Australians were more than 20 times more likely to be jailed than the rest of the population in those states.

The report also revealed that preventable chronic diseases are the main reason indigenous Australians die far earlier than other groups.

Australians for Native Tile and Reconciliation director Jacqueline Phillips called on the states and the Federal Government to act immediately to reduce the disproportionate numbers of indigenous people in the prison system.

"It is simply outrageous that indigenous Australians comprise more than a quarter of all people in prison, when they are just 2.5 per cent of the total population," Ms Phillips said.

"There are initiatives and programs which have been shown to be successful in reducing rates of offending and re-offending, but they are under-funded and piecemeal.

"Governments must divert some of the money currently being spent on building and running prisons to fund programs in disadvantaged communities to reduce offending through a justice re-investment approach."


The report also found that:

•    In 2008, nearly half (49 per cent) of all indigenous households were comprised of families with dependent children, more than a third (39 per cent) of which were one-parent families.
•    The Year 12 retention rate for indigenous students rose from 31 per cent in 1995 to 45 per cent in 2009.
•    Less than two-thirds (65 per cent) of working-age indigenous Australians were in jobs in 2008, compared with nearly four out of five (79 per cent) non-indigenous Australians.
•    In 2008, indigenous households were nearly 2.5 times as likely to be in the lowest income bracket and four times less likely to be in the top income bracket as non-indigenous households.
•    Nearly half of all indigenous children were living in jobless families in 2006 - three times the proportion of all children.
•    Between 1994 and 2008, the proportion of indigenous households who were home owners or buyers rose from 26 per cent to 32 per cent.
•    Poor access to public utilities and overcrowded houses remain significant problems, particularly in remote communities.
•    One in five indigenous adults reported being a victim of violence.
•    In 2008–09, the rate of substantiated child protection notifications for indigenous children was close to eight times the rate for other children.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/indigenous-imprisonment-jumps-drastically-a-health-report-finds/story-e6frfku0-1226050601508#ixzz1LSdPnquO

I'm not sure where the 'blame' lies, but whoever and whatever caused these adverse outcomes and trends - affecting the life chances of some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians - needs to be addressed.  Preferably with positive, inclusive and empowering socio-economic programs!

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Why such a big increase in the last decade?  Surely you couldn't blame it all on increased racism?

I'm not sure where the 'blame' lies, but whoever and whatever caused these adverse outcomes and trends - affecting the life chances of some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians - needs to be addressed.  Preferably with positive, inclusive and empowering socio-economic programs!

Soren wrote on May 5^th, 2011 at 10:05pm:


Do you know what would have benefitted aborigines more than anything else? (without laying any blame) Enforcement of the truancy regulations.

The present day Aborigine in his 20's is less educated than his grandfather was.  

This kind of leniency will kill off the aborigines.  Most of the "stolen generation" would have died if left alone, despite what the movie "Australia" indicates. Half-caste Aborigines were left to fend for themselves. They were ignored by both sides.

Aborigines should be treated like anybody else. A few have shown that they are capable and can escape the system.  The current generation has no respect for education. It will only be more difficult from now on.

Equitist wrote on May 5^th, 2011 at 5:59pm:


What a load of lefty wank!