Centacare Community Justice Group

Crime Prevention and Early Intervention

• Sentencing Manual to assist Indigenous Youth in the justice system.

Murri Court

To be eligible for Murri Court offenders must be:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
• Pleading guilty.

Advantages of the Murri Court are:

1. It takes cultural issues into account;
2. Invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders to have a say in the sentencing process;
3. Increases respect for Elders in the community;
4. A greater degree of trust in the courts from both offenders and Elders;
5. Better communication in court.

NAIDOC

A week of activities is held in the Toowoomba area to celebrate the significance of NAIDOC.

Community Visits to the Darling Downs Correctional Centre

Elders and CJG members visit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates on a fortnightly basis and work closely with the centre on any issues or concerns.

Youth Engagement

• WHADDUP? This award winning program aims to change anti social behaviour among Indigenous Youth in Toowoomba. On Friday nights 70 or more young indigenous youth and their non indigenous friends are ferried to a venue where they enjoy a barbeque followed by sports and games. Everyone who attends is expected to actively take part. Inappropriate behaviour draws penalities ranging from cleaning the venue on completion of the night's activities to suspension for a couple of weeks. Local Indigenous Elders are very supportive of the program as is the justice system in Toowoomba.