Aboriginal Law Bulletin; Koorier --- "To Gaol or Not to Gaol" [1986] AboriginalLawB 65; (1986) 1(23) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 9

• To Gaol Or Not To Gaol

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To Gaol or Not to Gaol

from KOORIER

It is no joy to anyone that Aborigines are eleven time more likely to be gaoled in New South Wales than non-Aborigines.

Currently there are about 220 Aboriginal prisoners in NSW gaols, and in an endeavour to fulfil the special needs of the Aboriginal population, the Department of Corrective Services is currently developing Aboriginal affairs policy to respond to these needs.

It gives emphasis to increasing Aboriginal input in reports the Department gives to the courts. It also looks at using Aboriginal community organisations in developing alternatives to gaol for Aborigines. Aborigines undertaking Community Service Orders far outnumber those in gaol today.

In Wilcannia, for example, the scheme has been particularly successful with up to 60 people doing Community Service Orders. The Department has now agreed that all work done in Wilcannia by Aboriginal offenders will be for the local Aboriginal community. Perhaps this initiative will be followed up in Broken Hill, Bankstown and Goulburn, where the Department also has Aboriginal probation and parole officers.

The newest and most promising initiative by the Department involving Aborigines is its involvement with seven other government departments on a committee to look at support schemes for Aborigines after their release from gaol. Following a report issued in December 1985 by Christian Alexander of Sydney University (who now works for this Ministry) the committee will implement schemes to help provide jobs and accommodation for released prisoners.

In conjunction with the Department of Technical and Further Education, the Department runs a number of general skills courses such as drama, art and music. With the confidence gained from such courses, Aboriginal prisoners can then progress to trade courses and, hopefully, into skilled employment when they are released. At Cessnock Corrective Centre, two elders from the Awabakal Co-operative run very successful courses in Aboriginal culture and the Awabakal language. Jack Beetson, from Tranby College in Glebe, teaches courses in Aboriginal creative writing at Long Bay, Bathurst, Goulburn and at the women's gaol, Mulawa.

The Department has recently approved the use of the Eora Centre in Redfern for a prerelease programme for long-term Aboriginal prisoners. Under this scheme (which goes into action on 8 Septemberl prisoners near the end of their sentence will be given day release to Eora where they will have the opportunity to gradually re-adjust to life in the community.

The Department employs a number of Aboriginal prison officers in NSW gaols. If you're interested in this job, phone Barry Russell or Dave Clapson on [phone] or 217 8108 or write to The Recruitment Officer, Department of Corrective Services, 14th Level, Roden Cutler House, 24 Campbell Street, Sydney for further information.

The basic requirements are that you be at least 20 last birthday (but the lob is open to anyone even up to the 45-50 age bracket) and the pay ranges from $18.,000 - $25,000 with shift allowances and penalty rates. There is six weeks annual leave and the usual public service employee benefits of superannuation, maternity leave, paid study leave, etc.

Keven Bates is the Department's Aboriginal Liaison Officer, who lectures trainee prison officers and probation and parole officers on Aboriginal culture, as well as being involved in all the above-mentioned activities. Give him a call on [phone] if you want to discuss any of the issues we have mentioned in this article.