Port Lincoln Aboriginal Conference Pilot: Review Report.

Source: (2008) Adelaide: Office of Crime Statistics and Research.

The Port Lincoln Aboriginal Adult Conference Pilot commenced in September 2007, with the first conference and sentencing hearing held in November 2007. Under the Port Lincoln conference model, Aboriginal defendants who reside in Port Lincoln, have family connections to the local community and who plead guilty are eligible to attend a conference prior to the sentencing hearing. Conferences are facilitated by a Conferencing Coordinator and an Aboriginal Justice Coordinator and involve a Police Prosecutor, defendant(s), victim(s) defendant and victim supporters and respected members of a local Aboriginal community. Using non-adversarial methods, the meeting provides an opportunity to acknowledge the harm done to the victim and to contribute to the development of responses to the offending behaviour. A report of the conference is then provided to the Magistrate to assist in determining an appropriate sentence. (excerpt)