PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF THE JUSTICE GROUP

PURPOSE OF JUSTICE GROUP

The Aurukun Community Justice Group was established in 1997.

The Justice Group is funded by the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and the Aurukun Shire Council.

The Aurukun Community Justice Group is comprised of respected community members and elders representing eight major geographical areas around Aurukun. There are 35 gazetted members. Twelve of these are active members. The demand on members for their time and energy is high. Members may be called upon by the community at all hours to help resolve problems or disputes. A number of members sit on Boards for other organisations and represent the community in various ways. Justice Group members have significant life experience.

 An election is held each three months for the positions of Chair and Deputy Chair.

The Justice Group employs a coordinator, an assistant coordinator and a liaison officer.

English is a second language for Aurukun people.  Much of the Justice Group business  is conducted in the Wik Mungkan language.

The Justice Group can only make decisions and give opinions as a group. It is inappropriate to quote someone as a "member" and purport that what they have said is the view of the group.

If you visit the Justice Group:

Remember that English is a second language here. If you cannot speak Wik Mungkan, speak clearly and to the point, not for too long.

Do not assume that members share your values and opinions. Take time to allow members to think about and translate what you say, and time to think about and translate a response.

Kinship is very important to Aurukun people. It is not the same as the European idea of family. Kinship can define rights and obligations. It binds people together and sets parameters for daily life.

FUNCTION OF JUSTICE GROUP

The Justice Group meets for two full days each week. (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) The most common work of the Group involves mediating community disputes and issues, but it undertakes a variety of work including:

• Acting as a consultant for various agencies
• Advice to corrective services regarding parole and release applications
• Assisting inmates of correctional institutions with travel arrangements related to funerals of close relatives
• Assisting the community with access to legal advice
• Assisting the community with Justice issues
• Assisting with crime prevention and diversion
• Assisting with victim related issues and mediation
• Assisting with video linkups between families and correctional institutions
• Court ordered mediation
• Dealing with minor matters that might otherwise become police matters
• Devising strategies to address justice related issues in the community
• Encouraging community members to take an active role in the Justice system (eg facilitating training for local Justices of the Peace)
• Exercising legislated powers in relation to control of alcohol
• Mediating between families of offenders and victims before parole is recommended
• Mediating community disputes
• Mediating matters of concern regarding children
• Monitoring the implementation of the Alcohol Management Plan
• Organising and implementing fine option orders (converting fines to community service)
• Organising prison visits
• Providing a presence at every court sitting
• Providing advice and written reports to the courts
• Providing advice to the Liquor Licensing commission
• Providing cultural information, access to local language and cultural assistants, transport, "people location and message" services
• Supervising court orders (probation, community service and intensive corrections orders)
• Supervising parole orders
• Supporting cultural law

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