In The Media | 20 November 2015

Supporting, not imprisoning, Aboriginal people with disabilities could save millions

Australia imprisons thousands of Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disability from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Research illustrates the huge cost of this practice – in both human and economic terms.

Most Aboriginal people with mental and cognitive disability are not in prison for committing serious crimes.

In our study the most common offences were theft, public order offences (such as offensive behaviour), offences against justice procedures (such as resist or hinder police officer, breach of bail) and traffic and vehicle offences (such as driving without a licence).

Aboriginal people with disabilities end up in prison because they are not supported early by specialised and community-based services.

Source: The Conversation