Deaths of Aboriginal people in Corrective Services NSW custody: Qualitative Review

Project Member(s): Beaufils, J., Cunneen, C., Coombes, L.

Funding or Partner Organisation: CORRECTIVE SERVICES INDUSTRIES
CORRECTIVE SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Start year: 2023

Summary: This work is a dedicated opportunity to understand the experiences of families, community groups and advocates about deaths of Aboriginal people in CSNSW custody, to inform the CSNSW Thematic Review. The death of a family member at any time is profoundly confronting and difficult and particularly when the cause is underdetermined. It is likely more so when a family member passes away in custody, unable to be comforted in person, not able to be directly advocated for, or visited for last intimate moments and goodbyes. And, not cared for culturally, to support passing in ways they and kin expect and require. Death is one of the life experiences seen as most sacred by cultures and religions worldwide. While Aboriginal people in NSW are diverse, there are several common protocols about death, dying and passing on, including that spirit of a person needs to be free, that people do not pass on alone, that intergenerational knowledge transfer occurs, and that returning to home Country and community occurs. Data indicate that deaths of Aboriginal people in CSNSW and NSW Police custody has been higher in recent years than previous1. The possibility of this trajectory continuing, signifying, as for other domains of life of Aboriginal people, that government policies, funding, evidence and workforces are currently not effective in bringing about improvements2, 3. Many government frameworks applicable to CSNSW are already committed to supporting Aboriginal people to self-determine solutions to social and health problems; they are clear about respecting and centring Aboriginal cultures and using Aboriginal knowledges in programs and workforce design and accountability measures, responding to needs and preventing inequities4, 5.

FOR Codes: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander criminology, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the law, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, society and community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community service programs

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.