Eligible Aboriginal offenders are to receive a more culturally-specific and community-based approach to sentencing, as part of a new pilot in the NSW District Court.
The Aboriginal Services Unit (ASU) in the Department of Communities and Justice is to provide on-the-ground support for the operations of the Walama List pilot.
Director of the ASU, Edwina Crawford said the pilot, to launch in February, would build on the success of other Indigenous sentencing courts across NSW, which had been shown to reduce the risk of reoffending and improve community confidence in the criminal justice system.
“We know from the success of Circle Sentencing that sharing decision making between Aboriginal people and the judiciary can transform formal court proceedings and have a profound and lasting impact on offenders,” Ms Crawford said.
Attorney General, Mark Speakman said the Walama List pilot would run at the Sydney Downing Centre District Court, with participants to be drawn from Sydney, Parramatta, Campbelltown and Penrith District Courts.
“The Walama List pilot aims to bring more community involvement into the judge’s sentencing process, building trust in the justice system and improving the diversion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders into critical support services that tackle the causes of offending behaviour,” Mr Speakman said.
“This program harnesses the wisdom of Aboriginal Elders and respected community members in sentencing discussions, along with providing wraparound support services and intensive monitoring before sentencing,” he said.
“We’re working hand-in-hand with Aboriginal communities to address the disproportionate rates of Aboriginal incarceration, drive down reoffending and find solutions that work.”
Mr Speakman said offenders who pled guilty could participate in the pilot, with a tailor-made program that included drug and alcohol treatment, counselling and other therapeutic supports, prior to being sentenced.
The Attorney General said certain offences, including prescribed sexual offences and a range of serious violent offences, were excluded from the pilot.
