Indigenous prison number up almost 90 per cent in decade, 'urgent action required'

5.5.15

Indigenous prison number up almost 90 per cent in decade, 'urgent action required': [aad.atsiphj.com.au] The situation was worse for Indigenous women, who represent more than one in three inmates in prisons.

Yuin woman Vickie Roach grew up in state care and spent 10 years in jail.

She branded the rates of Indigenous incarceration "a national disaster, and it's particularly a disaster to Aboriginal people".

Ms Roach said the impact of jail time was also felt by the prisoners' families.

"Damaged women make damaged children, make damaged families, make damaged communities, and the damage is felt by all of society," she said.

The Change the Record campaign launched a 12-point plan in Sydney urging governments to invest in housing, community services and more alternatives to jail.

It was backed by Aboriginal groups, legal services and charities including Oxfam Australia and Amnesty International.