MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 21 May 2025
The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) says new figures showing increases in Aboriginal incarceration highlights the NSW Government’s failure to prevent crime and make communities safer.
“Does the government care about reducing crime?” asked ALS CEO Karly Warner. “Its focus on throwing people in jail is coming at the expense of policies that can actually stop crime.
“The increased number of Aboriginal adults and children incarcerated is not a result of evidence-based policy – it's the result of a political agenda more concerned with appearing tough on crime than with stopping it, and it is perpetuating trauma in our communities.
“These new bail laws and increased policing are making communities less safe, and Aboriginal communities and children are becoming collateral damage.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) today released statistics showing that the number of Aboriginal children in NSW prisons has risen 30% over the past 5 years, primarily due to a rise in the number of Aboriginal children on remand - up 76.4%.
“These statistics also show that Aboriginal women are grossly disproportionately charged by police, with consequences like imprisonment, loss of housing and removal of their children. These consequences ripple through our communities for generations.
“Effective prevention looks different for different communities. The solutions are there, but the government is failing to implement them.
“Ultimately we need politicians to focus on preventing crime and meeting community needs because that’s what actually matters, and that is what will make communities safer,” Ms Warner said.
Media contact: Catalina Casar | 0421 547 759 | [email protected]
