WA govt aims to reform Aboriginal justice

The over-representation of Aboriginal people in the West Australian justice system and number of deaths in custody will be addressed in a ministerial working group, the state government says.

Premier Colin Barnett identified three areas of focus including the creation of safer custody environments, avoiding incarceration for low level offending, and supporting prevention and diversion initiatives that keep people out of the criminal justice system.

Aboriginal prisoners make up 40 per cent of the total adult prison population in WA, but Aboriginal adults represent only 2.9 per cent of the state's population.