Prisoner

2023 - 2 - 26

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Independent Australia"

Prisoner numbers declining but Indigenous people still ... (Independent Australia)

The latest prison figures show state and federal government departments are still failing First Australians.

[Voice to Parliament](https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/albaneses-voice-to-parliament-referendum-should-be-a-no-brainer,16652) currently being [debated](https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/getting-good-and-vocal-about-a-voice-to-parliament,17181) assists here. [Alan Austin](https://independentaustralia.net/profile-on/alan-austin,67) is an Independent Australia columnist and freelance journalist. One factor is what he calls the “multigenerational legacy of trauma”. The reasons are complex, difficult to discern and not readily agreed upon. If the causes are not understood, then naturally solutions will be elusive. “This is the lowest count of prisoners since 2017. State governments manage most police forces, prison systems and welfare delivery to marginalised groups. Prisoner numbers dropped for nearly all offence types, including illicit drug offences (-13%), burglary (-11%), and robbery (-12%). But the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people incarcerated is still disturbingly high. Prisoners on remand decreased by 2.1% to 14,864. Rates of imprisonment Australia-wide are declining, which is also gratifying. This is good.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Hunt underway for Mount Isa prisoner after watch house escape (ABC News)

Police are searching for one of two men who escaped a watch house in Mount Isa. A 25-year-old Caucasian man is still at large.

One of the men is on a return-to-prison warrant and the other has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment for several offences, according to Mount Isa Police District officer in charge Inspector Erin Shawcross. About 12:30pm on Sunday, a 19-year-old man and a 25-year-old man used an implement to smash a large plate-glass window in the exercise area of the city's watch house. Police are searching for a man after he and another prisoner broke out of a watch house in Mount Isa on Sunday.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The North West Star"

Police appeal for help finding prisoner who escaped Mount Isa ... (The North West Star)

Journalist covering Queensland and Northern Territory community, sport and politics. Previously worked as a broadcast journalist at 4ZZZ Radio.

Previously worked as a broadcast journalist at 4ZZZ Radio. Journalist covering Queensland and Northern Territory community, sport and politics. UQ Alumni.

Explore the last week