Description

This article summarises the findings of the Cape York Justice Study, conducted by Justice Fitzgerald, and sets out many of its recommendations. The study was required to examine the causes, nature and extent of breaches of the law in the Cape York Indigenous communities. The study finds that alcohol abuse and violent misconduct have become socially normalised in the Cape York communities and suggests that if the communities themselves are unable to curb the problems they face, then government must step in to do it for them. On the basis of a partnership between government and the communities, a public health approach to alcohol misuse, including supply reduction strategies, must be developed for the region; a clear message must be sent that serious violence will not be tolerated; and there should be greater emphasis on community based sentencing options, in order to divert young people from the mainstream criminal justice system.