New program to fund research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander criminal justice

Joint Media Release

The Hon Karen Andrews MP - Minister for Home Affairs

The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP - Minister for Indigenous Australians

The national Indigenous Justice Research Program (IJRP) has been established today as part of the Morrison Government’s commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The IJRP will fund academic research relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander criminal justice and aim to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in detention.

Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said closing the gap was vitally important, not just for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples but for all Australians.

“This new research program will build a body of evidence to inform improvements to criminal justice polices and responses as they relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals interacting with the justice system,” Minister Andrews said.

“As a Government, we’re working to reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and young people in detention by at least 15 per cent and 30 per cent respectively, in the next 10 years.”

Minister Wyatt said a solid research and evidence base will support all parties to meet and exceed the targets to reduce Indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system.

“Indigenous over-representation in adult and youth justice systems is complex, and we must do everything we can to reduce the rates in a culturally informed and coordinated way.

“The Indigenous Justice Research Program will delve into the drivers of over-representation and inform the work of the Justice Policy Partnership.

“The Partnership was formed under Priority Reform One of Closing the Gap – we’re bringing together all governments and Indigenous stakeholders to work on solutions to reduce the rates of adult and youth Indigenous incarceration.”

The IJRP will be run jointly by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAC), and the Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse (IJC).

The AIC, NIAA and IJC are calling for applications from researchers to identify and analyse:

• the nature and drivers of overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the criminal justice and related systems;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ contact with and experience in the criminal justice and related systems;
• policies, programs or other activities that will contribute to a reduction in the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the criminal justice and related systems; and/or
• Indigenous approaches to crime and criminal justice.

Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers are particularly encouraged.

The Indigenous Justice Research Program Approach to Market is available at www.austender.gov.au until 30 November 2021.