Indigenous Australians with disabilities and the criminal justice system.
UNSW research shows Australia imprisons thousands of Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disabilities each year because of a lack of understanding, and a dearth of community-based services and support. This series of articles explores the extent of the problem and potential solutions.
Australia imprisons thousands of Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disabilities each year – and a widespread lack of understanding and action underpins this shameful breach of human rights, write Eileen Baldry, Elizabeth McEntyre and Ruth McCausland.
Aboriginal women only make up between 2% and 3% of the female population. But their rate of imprisonment has soared to a record high of 35%, writes Elizabeth McEntyre.
Police often don’t recognise that someone has an intellectual disability or brain injury due to a lack of training in this area, write Eileen Baldry, Elizabeth McEntyre and Ruth McCausland.
Early support could save lives and allow Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disability to live with dignity in their communities, writes Ruth McCausland.
Early intervention and diversion away from the criminal justice system can enable Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disabilities to live with dignity, write Elizabeth McEntyre, Eileen Baldry,and Ruth McCausland.