Sad Facts

The committee found the detention rate for indigenous juveniles was 397 per 100,000, which is 28 times higher than the rate for non-indigenous juveniles at 14 per 100,000. Indigenous juveniles account for 59 per cent of the total juvenile population in jail.

The imprisonment rate in the adult indigenous community was just as dire, with a 55 per cent increase in men in prison in the past decade and a 47 per cent rise of women in custody.

20 years on, black kids still fill jails, parliamentary committee finds

Almost one third (29%) of the Indigenous juveniles in custody had been in custody ten or more times.

2009 NSW Young People in Custody Health Survey

Half of the Indigenous juveniles in custody were first admitted to custody before they were 13.

2009 NSW Young People in Custody Health Survey

Estimates based on a meta analysis of 13 studies from 1990-2007.

Data table

Comparing life expectancy of Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States: Conceptual, methodological and data issues

The indigenous imprisonment rate surged from 1248 for every 100,000 Australian adults in 2000 to 1892 by 2010, marking a 52 per cent increase, an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report has found.

Indigenous people now make up 26 per cent of the prison population despite making up just 2.5 per cent of the Australian population.

In Western Australia and South Australia, indigenous people were 20 times more likely to be jailed. Almost 7600 indigenous Australians were behind bars in June 2010, 91 per cent of them male.

Indigenous prison rates jump by 52 per cent

The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: an overview 2011

Young Indigenous people are about 13 times more likely to be under supervision of the justice system than young non-Indigenous people.

Juvenile justice in Australia, 2008-09

The Difference, Issue 1

If the Indigenous Australian population was a country, its life expectancy would rank 178th in the world (compared to Australia’s ranking of 7th), between Cambodia and Botswana.

[unpublished]

Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: key indicators 2009

Twenty-four of the dead children were indigenous, making the Aboriginal suicide rate six times higher than for white children.

Nationally, the suicide rate among indigenous people aged 15 and older is more than double the rate of other Australians.

Strategy to reduce suicide in children (via Shara)

Across Australia, Indigenous prisoners in this release cohort were more likely (55%) than non-Indigenous prisoners (31%) to have been readmitted to prison within two years of release. As well as returning to prison at a higher rate, Indigenous prisoners tended to return sooner. Within six months of release (Figure 1), one-quarter of released Indigenous prisoners had been readmitted to prison, twice the percentage of non-Indigenous released prisoners (12%). Two-fifths of Indigenous prisoners (39%) had been readmitted to prison custody within 12 months, compared with one-fifth of non-Indigenous prisoners.

Reintegration of Indigenous prisoners: key findings

Across Australia, Indigenous prisoners in this release cohort were more likely (55%) than non-Indigenous prisoners (31%) to have been readmitted to prison within two years of release. As well as returning to prison at a higher rate, Indigenous prisoners tended to return sooner. Within six months of release (Figure 1), one-quarter of released Indigenous prisoners had been readmitted to prison, twice the percentage of non-Indigenous released prisoners (12%). Two-fifths of Indigenous prisoners (39%) had been readmitted to prison custody within 12 months, compared with one-fifth of non-Indigenous prisoners.

Reintegration of Indigenous prisoners: key findings

At the 500 day (1.4 year) mark, 65 per cent of the non-Indigenous group had not reappeared in court, compared with only 32 per cent of the Indigenous group.

The transition from juvenile to adult criminal careers

At the 500 day (1.4 year) mark, 65 per cent of the non-Indigenous group had not reappeared in court, compared with only 32 per cent of the Indigenous group.

The transition from juvenile to adult criminal careers

The research paper said that by 2009-10 only 13 per cent of indigenous children in the NT received a health check — a figure that was better than the combined average for other states of 8.4 per cent.

Doctors reject indigenous preventative health scheme

In terms of demographic characteristics, after controlling
for other factors, … the odds of an Indigenous person
receiving a sentence of imprisonment were 1.46 times the
odds of a non-Indigenous person.

Factors which influence the sentencing of domestic violence offenders

Based on the national definition of poverty – $4 a day – more than half of South Africans (54%) are poor. And, as the chart below shows, poverty and inequality still reflect race. While the African community’s access to services such as housing, water and electricity has improved substantially, its income continues to lag far behind other social groups. By international standards, this link between race and poverty is remarkably strong. Nor have there been too many signs of this link weakening.

https://community.oecd.org/community/factblog/blog/2010/06/18/south-africa-winners-and-losers

Based on the national definition of poverty – $4 a day – more than half of South Africans (54%) are poor. And, as the chart below shows, poverty and inequality still reflect race. While the African community’s access to services such as housing, water and electricity has improved substantially, its income continues to lag far behind other social groups. By international standards, this link between race and poverty is remarkably strong. Nor have there been too many signs of this link weakening.

https://community.oecd.org/community/factblog/blog/2010/06/18/south-africa-winners-and-losers