Former politicians, judges, experts and Indigenous leaders say a new approach to justice is needed in the NT to replace failed tough-on-crime policies.

May 2, 2023

An alliance of former politicians, judicial figures, experts and Indigenous leaders has called for a new approach to justice in the Northern Territory to reduce its reliance on incarceration.

One person in every 100 people is imprisoned in the territory, a rate five times higher than the national average, the Justice Reform Initiative says.

Almost three-quarters of people in prison in the NT have been behind bars before, confirming the entrenched tough-on-crime approach isn’t addressing the underlying drivers of offending, according to a new report analysing the chronic over-reliance on incarceration.

Mindy Sotiri, the initiative’s executive director, said the NT’s deep-rooted and costly reliance on prison had failed to deter crime, rehabilitate offenders and keep the community safe.

Alternatives to incarceration are urgently needed across the entire criminal justice system, she said.

“Too many Territorians are trapped in a cycle of incarceration, repeatedly encountering a system that fails to offer opportunities to break out of it.”

Dr Sotiri said the NT government’s failure to commit to evidence-based policy had increased the likelihood of reoffending and significantly impacted Indigenous communities, which are over-represented in the justice system.

Greater investment in genuine alternatives such as early prevention and diversion, and evidence-based solutions outside the justice system should replace imprisonment as a default policy response, she said.

The initiative has called on the NT government and commonwealth to establish a $300 million fund to help community-led projects break the cycle of incarceration.

“Community-led justice programs are achieving dramatic reductions in crime, youth justice contact and significant cost-savings, but far too many of these services and programs have such limited scope and capacity that only a fraction of people who need them can access them,” Dr Sotiri said.

“It is time to get smart and follow the evidence to effectively fund services and programs that work, reduce crime, break cycles of re-incarceration and build a safer NT.”