Closing the gap on indigenous prison rates

A SUMMARY OF THE 2015 AMA REPORT CARD ON INDIGENOUS HEALTH

INDIGENOUS IMPRISONMENT BY NUMBERS

* Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people comprise 28 per cent of all full-time adult prisoners, despite being only 3pc of the population

* They are 13 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-indigenous people

* That jumps to 17 times more likely for 10 to 17-year-olds

* There was a 10pc increase in the number of prisoners from 2013 (8430) to 2014 (9264)

* It's projected that, for the first time, more than 10,000 indigenous people will be in custody on the night of June 30 next year - the next prison census

* Violence is the most common offence resulting in a prison sentence.

AMA'S RECOMMENDATIONS

* Set a national target for closing the gap in the imprisonment rates of indigenous Australians

* Fund services that will divert indigenous Australians from prison

* Support the expansion of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to help improve the health of indigenous people and reduce imprisonment rates

* Develop a model of healthcare that integrates ACCHOs, prison health services and others to help improve health and reduce imprisonment rates

* Employ indigenous health workers in prison services.

(Source: 2015 AMA Report Card on Indigenous Health)