Researcher to explore impacts of NT Indigenous incarceration rates

09-Feb-2015

Researcher to explore impacts of NT Indigenous incarceration rates

A researcher will hold a public lecture on how remote Indigenous communities might be affected by high Indigenous incarceration rates in the Northern Territory.

Northern Institute Research Associate at Charles Darwin University, Hannah Payer will raise awareness about social and economic issues faced by communities when fellow community members are incarcerated.

Ms Payer said an example of economic impact included the loss of work-ready residents due to incarceration.

“It is such an important topic, especially in the NT, as we have such high rates of Indigenous incarceration,” Ms Payer said.

The lecture will be based on the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which shows the NT has the highest proportion of Indigenous incarceration rates in Australia.

“These are devastating figures,” she said.

“So what does this mean for small remote communities, when they have such a large number of people missing due to incarceration?”

She said the lecture would also discuss the issue of closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage in the justice system.

The lecture, “Researching demographic impacts from the incarceration of Indigenous people in the NT”, will be held at the Northern Institute on Casuarina campus on Tuesday, 10 February from 12pm until 1.30pm. For more information, visit W: cdu.edu.au/northern-institute/events