Recommendation 33
Recommendation 33 is to develop and publicly report on a First Peoples-led cultural change action plan for bail decision-makers to ensure remand is used only as a last resort. The Bail Amendment Act 2023 includes reforms which are fundamentally aligned with the intent of this recommendation, in that they seek to reduce unnecessary remand of those accused of low-level, non-violent offences — with Aboriginal people disproportionately remanded when accused of such offending. DJCS has provided guidance to bail decision-makers following the passing of these amendments, including a comprehensive guide on the expanded Aboriginal-specific considerations.
Recommendation 42
Recommendation 42 calls for government to ensure people in prison and youth justice centres, including Aboriginal people, can make telephone calls for free or at no greater cost than the general community. In response to this recommendation, government will subsidise phone calls in the short term for people in prison so they can better connect with their loved ones. Longer-term solutions are also being explored through negotiations with commercial providers of prison telephone services. A free call allowance is already available in Youth Justice centres.
Recommendation 43
Recommendation 43 calls for government to reform the Victorian prison system based on the recommendations of the Cultural Review of the Adult Custodial Corrections System (Cultural Review). The Victorian Government has delivered some reforms to address the critical issues and themes identified in the Cultural Review, and further reforms are underway. These reforms work to better support the custodial correctional workforce, improve outcomes for people in custody, provide more support for the Aboriginal workforce and greater cultural safety across the system, and keep Victorian safe. The Commission placed specific emphasis on implementing the Cultural Review’s recommendations aimed at enhancing the human and cultural rights of Aboriginal people in custody. Consistent with the Victorian Government response, implementation has begun on a number of these recommendations, including by establishing a Deputy Commissioner for Workforce and Aboriginal Outcomes position, reviewing cultural spaces in all prisons, ensuring access to regular Aboriginal health checks, developing an Aboriginal Workforce Plan, and launching an Aboriginal Wellbeing Officer Recruitment and Retention Strategy. DJCS is also continuing to work closely with Aboriginal stakeholders, including the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and its Cultural Review Implementation Subgroup to develop an approach to several other Cultural Review recommendations referenced in recommendation 43.
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