Physical description

41 p. ; 25 cm.

Summary

In October 1987, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was established to find out why so many Aboriginal people were dying in prison - 99 between January 1980 and May 1989 alone. Since then, tragically, there have been another 25 deaths.The findings of the Royal Commission and its recommendations have been widely publicised since their release in May 1991. They catalogue the terrible history of dispossession and oppression of our people. The Commission makes 339 recommendations on how the past hurt and current disadvantage of the Aboriginal people can be redressed... The main themes to emerge not surprisingly, underline many of the issues raised in the Royal Commission's Final Report - the plight of families of the deceases, Aboriginal / police relations, the lack of access to land, substance abuse, appalling health, inadequate housing, and the pressing need to provide education and employment for our youth.