Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia Limited Submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission's Discussion Paper on Incarceration Rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 11 September 2017 l ABOUT THE ABORIGINAL LEGAL SERVICE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA .................................................... ..4 BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................... ..4 Scope of the reference ...................................................................................................................... ..4 Overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Australia ............ ..4 ALSWA SUBMISSION ............................................................................................................................. ..5 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................5 Contributing factors ....................................................................................................................5 Child protection and adult incarceration ....................................................................................7 Rural and remote ........................................................................................................................7 Bail and the Remand Population .........................................................................................................7 Sentencing and Aboriginality ............................................................................................................12 Specialist sentencing reports ....................................................................................................16 Sentencing Options ...........................................................................................................................18 Mandatory sentencing ..............................................................................................................18 Short sentences of imprisonment .............................................................................................25 Availability of community-based sentencing options ...............................................................26 Flexibility to tailor sentences................................................................................................... ..27 Prison Programs, Parole and Unsupervised Release....................................................................... ..29 Remand and short sentences .................................................................................................. ..29 Programs for women ............................................................................................................... ..30 Discretionary and court ordered parole.................................................................................. ..31 Counting time spent on parole when parole revoked ............................................................ .33 Throughcare ............................................................................................................................ .33 Fines and Drivers Imprisonment terms that ‘cut out’ fine debt .......................................................................... ..33 The impact of infringement notices ..........................................................................................34 Infringement notices for offensive language/conduct..............................................................35 Alternatives to court imposed fines ..........................................................................................39 NSW Work and Development Orders ..................................................................................... ..40 Loss of licence through fine default ..........................................................................................41 Access to driver licences............................................................................................................43 Justice Procedure Offences — Breach of Community-based Sentences ............................................49 Breach of community-based sentences ....................................................................................49 Alcohol ...............................................................................................................................................51 Assessing solutions .................................................................................................................. ..52 Female Offenders ..............................................................................................................................53 2 Diversion .................................................................................................................................. ..54 Aboriginal Justice Agreements ........................................................................................................ ..55 Criminal justice targets for ‘Closing the Gap’ .......................................................................... ..57 Access to Justice Issues ................................................................................................................... ..57 Interpreter services ................................................................................................................. ..57 Specialist courts and diversion programs ............................................................................... ..58 Indefinite detention when unfit to stand trial ........................................................................ ..61 Provision of legal services and supports ................................................................................. ..63 Custody notification service .................................................................................................... ..64 Police Accountability ....................................................................................................................... ..66 Aboriginal women experiencing family violence .................................................................... ..69 Better police responses to communities................................................................................. ..70 Annual public reporting........................................................................................................... ..71 Police programs ....................................................................................................................... ..71 Reconciliation Action Plans ..................................................................................................... ..72 Justice Reinvestment....................................................................................................................... ..73 Other .................................................................................................................................................73 Other discriminatory laws ........................................................................................................... ..73 Disruptive behaviour management policy ................................................................................73 Move on orders .........................................................................................................................74 Prohibited Behaviour Orders.....................................................................................................75 Police Orders .............................................................................................................................75 Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 ............................................................76 Cultural competency training ........................................................................................................77 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................77 ABOUT THE ABORIGINAL LEGAL SERVICE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ALSWA is a community-based organisation, which was established in 1973. ALSWA aims to empower Aboriginal peoples and advance their interests and aspirations through a comprehensive range of legal and support services throughout Western Australia. ALSWA aims to: 0 Deliver a comprehensive range of culturally—matched and quality legal services to Aboriginal peoples throughout Western Australia; 0 Provide leadership which contributes to participation, empowerment and recognition of Aboriginal peoples as the First Peoples of Australia; 0 Ensure that Government and Aboriginal peoples address the underlying issues that contribute to disadvantage on all social indicators, and implement the relevant recommendations arising from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody; and o Create a positive and culturally matched work environment by implementing efficient and effective practices and administration throughout ALSWA. ALSWA uses the law and legal system to bring about social justice for Aboriginal peoples as a whole. ALSWA develops and uses strategies ir1 areas of legal advice, legal representation, legal education, legal research, policy development and law reform. ALSWA is a representative body with executive officers elected by Aboriginal peoples from their local regions