Report on the NSW Government's Implementation of the Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A — THEMATIC CHAPTERS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1. PREVENTING DEATHS IN CUSTODY Introduction Assessing and managing physical and mental health Providing safe accommodation Casework and the provision of education and training to inmates Facilitating family and community support Training and disciplining staff Consulting with the community and inmates Responding to incidents of illness, self-harm or attempted suicide Dealing with complaints CHAPTER 2. PREVENTING INCARCERATION Statistics Consultative mechanisms Police/Aboriginal relations Crime prevention Bail Legal representation Alternatives to criminal charges sDirector of Public Prosecutions The courts Sentencing Alternative sentencing options CHAPTER 3. ADDRESSING UNDERLYING DISADVANTAGES Co-ordinating and improving government services Discrimination and reconciliation Land rights Cultural heritage, the arts, sport and recreation Family and community services Housing and infrastructure Health Education and training Employment and business opportunities PART B — RESPONSES TO RECOMMENDATIONS OVERVIEW The establishment and role of Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees PREVENTING DEATHS IN CUSTODY 1.1 Investigating Deaths in Custody Resolution of cultural objections to post mortems 1.2 Custodial Health and Safety Police officers to be trained re Aboriginal health issues and risk assessment Police to keep regular records regarding detainee’s welfare Alarm and intercom systems to be installed in cells Aboriginal persons not to be alone in cells Operation of cell visitor schemes Friends and family to be encouraged to visit detainees Specialist psychiatric and dental attention for prisoners Prisoner medical services to have cultural training and employ Aboriginal staff Review of equipment and facilities in cells which may be used to cause harm Exchange of information between Police and Corrective Services 1.3 The Prison Experience Aboriginal inmates to be located as close as possible to their families Funding of family visits to the prisoner, if the family are not closely located Family visits should occur with the minimum of supervision Employment and role of complaints officers in custodial institutions Segregation of Aboriginal inmates to be avoided Facilitate establishment of Aboriginal support groups within institutions Aboriginal prisoners to have access to education, training and work DEET develop strategy for training and education in institutions PREVENTING INCARCERATION 2.1 Arrest Police adherence to principle of arrest as a sanction of last resort 2.2 Bail Granting of bail to be monitored and legislation amended if necessary 2.3 entencing Options Aboriginal people in remote communities to be consulted re sentences Monitoring of recidivism to evaluate effectiveness of sentencing options 2.4 Alcohol Related Offences Funding for the care and treatment of intoxicated persons Monitoring the effect of Dry Area Declarations Laws relating to the public consumption of alcohol 2.5 Motor Vehicle Offences Programs to reduce rate of motor vehicle offences 2.6 Offensive Language Restrained use of offensive language charges 2.7 Criminal Records Removal of past convictions from criminal records 2.8 Juveniles Police to arrest juveniles as a last resort ADDRESSING UNDERLYING DISADVANTAGES 3.1 Access to Funding and Services Block grant funding for Aboriginal groups on a triennial basis Programs to be delivered by Aboriginal organisations Methods by which Aboriginal groups are required to account should be simple Aboriginal people to have equal access to essential services Equitable distribution of funding for communities Provision of training to Aboriginal organisations Priority to economic and cultural development plans by Aboriginal groups 3.2 Indigenous Culture and Society Access to government archives of Aboriginal families and history Preservation of Aboriginal culture, history and traditions 3.3 Discrimination and Human Rights Aboriginal people to be informed about anti-discrimination legislation Aboriginal people to be encouraged to exercise their legal rights Racial vilification to be a civil offence 3.4 The Media Funding of Aboriginal media organisations and coverage of Aboriginal issues Improved contact and understanding between the media an Aboriginal people 3.5 Education and Training Government to address the underlying causes of truancy Greater focus on pre-school initiatives for Aboriginal children School curricula to incorporate Aboriginal issues and perspectives Aboriginal people to assist in the preparation and delivery of school courses School education to address social issues Aboriginal Student Support and Parent Awareness Program Governments to study training program for Aboriginal teachers Teacher training courses to address Aboriginal issues Guidelines for the role of teachers to be negotiated 3.6 Employment Community participation in development plans Adoption of ATSIC regional divisions when delivering employment programs Funding for local employment committees and programs 3.7 Health Comprehensive and up-to-date information on Aboriginal health programs Improved and increased training in health care Aboriginal community-controlled health services to be studied Communication between mainstream and Aboriginal health care services Increased access to health care services and facilities Aboriginal people to be involved in decisions relating to health service delivery Aboriginal people to be encouraged to undertake medical and health care studies Increased collection and use of Aboriginal health statistics Funding of implementation of the National Aboriginal Health Strategy Provision of early intervention programs in health centres 3.8 Health, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Aboriginal people to be involved in research into Aboriginal alcohol use 3.9 Housing and Infrastructure Integrated provision of infrastructure, housing and essential services Housing policy to cover both physical housing and necessary support services Factors to take into account when assessing housing stock Adoption of the Tangentyere model of service delivery Assistance to Aboriginal groups to undertake their own housing projects 3.10 Land Aboriginal people to be consulted and involved in mining and tourism projects Involvement of Aborigines in decisions relating to National Parks 3.11 Research and Data Collection Aboriginal people to be consulted re use of social indicators for policy purposes Maintenance of data on Aboriginal social indicators Funding to develop and monitor performance indicators 3.12 Reconciliation Immediate support for the reconciliation process APPENDICES Appendix A Tables of Statistics Relating to Indigenous Incarceration Rates (Juveniles and Adults) Appendix B Funding of Aboriginal Arts Programs Appendix C Violence Against Women Regional Action Plans Appendix D Area Health Service Initiatives

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