A specialist therapeutic court program for Aboriginal children and young people has been launched to address the over-representation of young Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.
The Youth Aboriginal Community Court Adelaide (YACCA) is a culturally-responsive program that aims to minimise young people's interactions with the justice system through intervention and support.
The $716,250 program, commencing in mid-October, is being trialled for two years and is for young people sitting at the Adelaide Youth Court.
The YACCA involves Aboriginal Elders and Respected Persons in the court process, and the young person's sentence is delayed while support is given to address issues that contribute to their offending.
Eligible young people will receive the support they need from the external service provider and have regular check-ins with YACCA, including informal court sittings, to check on their progress.
Quotes attributable to Kyam Maher, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
The over-representation of Aboriginal young people in our justice system, and the high rates of recidivism, is deeply troubling.
Clearly we need to do more to address some of the factors that can contribute to a young person offending, and put measures and supports in place that can make a difference.
YACCA will provide targeted and culturally safe interventions to young offenders, who will receive the support and help they need.
This is an important reform and consistent with the recommendations of the Advisory Commission into the Incarceration Rates of Aboriginal Peoples in South Australia.