Indigenous women prisoners up 248%

A shocking report has revealed the number of incarcerated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women has increased by 248% since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody released its findings in 1991. These statistics are among many that continue to remind us Australia’s approach to Indigenous issues is failing.

Indigenous woman are more likely to be imprisoned for acts intended to cause injury (such as assault) than non-Indigenous women, and this is linked to the higher rates of violence against Indigenous women.

Report spokeswoman Vickie Roach says there is a misguided perception that incarcerating women removes them from the violence, but this is not always the case as domestic violence is cyclical and hard to avoid in small communities.

In light of this, we must also question the way our law and society deal with instances of domestic violence in Indigenous communities and families.  Jacinta Price, who has been a strong critic of Indigenous domestic violence, believes the ongoing recognition of Customary Law acts as a barrier by protecting Indigenous men and perpetuates the subjugation of Indigenous women in Australia.

Indigenous women’s minority position is also reflected in the fact that there is so little data available about Indigenous women, as well as a lack of specific support services for Indigenous women.

The report also highlights that 80% of Indigenous women in incarceration are mothers. Having women incarcerated therefore has a profound impact on families and also obstructs achieving the Closing the Gap targets.

There is a strong body of evidence that women are crucial when it comes to empowering communities and alleviating families from poverty. Yet, shocking statistics like these have plagued the face of Indigenous affairs for years. It is time real attention was paid to understanding the genesis of the statistics by addressing issues such as the violence that affects Indigenous women. Women being incarcerated does not just affect them; but also their children and generations to come.