In the spirit of reconciliation, Hamilton Janke Lawyers acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
NSW has taken the first step towards establishing the Indigenous Walama Court by announcing a program for Aboriginal offenders that will involve elders and respected community members in sentencing discussions.
The Indigenous Walama Court will operate as a list inside the NSW District Court in Sydney, to which eligible Aboriginal offenders can be referred. It will involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and respected persons in a sentencing discussion and case plan conversations with the presiding Judge.
The Walama list takes its name from the word for come back in Dharug language. In the context of the Walama List, it is a coming back to identity, community, culture, and a healthy, crime-free life.
The aim is for the Court to work together with Aboriginal communities to address the disproportionate rates of Aboriginal incarceration and to find solutions that work.
The pilot scheme is set to start in February 2022, will operate for a week each month and can accommodate up to 50 Indigenous participants at a time.
If you or someone you know needs legal advice or representation for a criminal or traffic law matter, contact the team at Hamilton Janke Lawyers 24/7 by calling 4038 1666.
Image: NSW Courts.
James Janke is founding partner at Hamilton Janke Lawyers, and has more then decade of experience as a Criminal Defence Lawyer. Admitted to both the Supreme Court of New South Wales and High Court of Australia
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