"what I am saying is that incarceration just doesn't work...". ....... no question about that.
imprisonment only increases the probability of future imprisonment.
- recidivism rate for first offenders are much higher for Aboriginal people than non-Aboriginal
- prison was not long ago seen as a substitute for school graduation and a rite of passage to adulthood
- the incidence of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome disorder (FASD) is much higher (medically diagnosed) than for non-Aboriginal cohorts
- due to 3. many Aboriginal people are subject to irrational and explosive outburst, particularly under the effect of alcohol, resulting in greater incidents of violence
- higher incidence of diagnosed brain trauma from violent behaviours
there are a lot more factors involved including decades of oppression and the long term intergenerational epigenetic factors from traumas.
this is a highly contentious and complicated issue that has no simple answers. Pollies love simple answers that they can use to say "Hey Look at This... we are fixing Aboriginal problems". they don't like to consider the complexities and look for nuanced and subtle changes they could institute to actually address the core issues.
this is WHY the Voice is necessary.
