Sentencing Aboriginal Offenders: The Future of Indigenous Justice Models.

Source: (2005) Paper presented at the 19th International Conference of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 26-30. Downloaded 14 November 2005.

At the end of the 20th century, Australia’s first Aboriginal court was established to sentence indigenous offenders. Over the last 6 years, a number of different courts, in most of our States and Territories, have become operational. While their style and set up differs to accommodate the interests of the local community, the broader aims are the same – to create a distinct culturally appropriate tribunal in which to sentence indigenous offenders, that will increase the involvement of the offender and the local community in the decision making process. The primary purpose of this paper is to explore two existing indigenous justice models – Aboriginal Courts and circle sentencing courts – and to suggest ways in which they may be expanded in the future, both geographically and in scope. (excerpt)