Reducing incarceration of Aboriginal people: Challenges and choices
Part of a series of papers on key issues for the 58th Parliament
Overrepresentation of Aboriginal men and women in NSW prisons is growing. In March 2023 almost one third of people in prison in NSW were Aboriginal. This situation occurs in the context of plans that aim to reduce the rate of Aboriginal incarceration by at least 15% by 2031. This paper presents an update on factors driving overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in prison in NSW and current efforts to reduce it. It outlines public discussions on alternatives to imprisonment and recaps key inquiry recommendations on how to reduce Aboriginal incarceration.
Anita Knudsen, BA(Public Communication), MAppAnth
Lenny Roth, BCom, LLB
Parliamentary Research Service
Published: 31 May 2023