2 December 2015

Amnesty International reports show that Indigenous young people are 26 times more likely to be in detention than non-Indigenous young people, make up nearly 60 per cent of those in detention and account for almost all the increase in children in detention reported by BOCSAR. In response to my representations to get action, the Minister for Police and Justice reported on progress under the NSW Aboriginal Youth Justice Plan.

I’ve asked the NSW Attorney General to review legislation that impacts on Indigenous young people including changes to bail laws to give priority to young people who may be imprisoned with adults and make 12 years of age the time when criminal responsibility applies, as agreed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

My request, the minister’s response and the Amnesty International report are available HERE.