Protecting Australia’s Incarcerated Aboriginals

Summary

The video script captures the experiences and responsibilities of a Community Service Officer (CSO) at the Aboriginal Legal Service. It highlights the challenges faced by indigenous people in the justice system, the CSO's role in ensuring their welfare while in custody, and the importance of providing legal advice and support. The script also touches on personal stories of racial profiling and the need for building trust between the Aboriginal community and the police.

Takeaways

• 🕵️‍♂️ The script revolves around the experiences and responsibilities of a Community Service Officer (CSO) at the Aboriginal Legal Service, who checks on the welfare of indigenous people in police custody.
• 📞 The CSO is on call from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., handling calls related to indigenous individuals who have been arrested and are going through the police system.
• 🚔 There is an over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system, which is a significant concern addressed in the script.
• 🏥 The CSO is responsible for ensuring the welfare of those in custody, including checking for medical issues or the possibility of death in custody, which is a grave responsibility.
• 🤔 The script highlights the lack of access to legal advice for some individuals before their police interviews, which can be problematic.
• 👥 The Aboriginal Legal Service has a strong team of workers who support each other, especially during stressful times, with some workers being available around the clock.
• 📞 The CSO often communicates with clients to ensure they are okay and to provide legal advice, as well as to contact family members if necessary.
• 🌆 The service covers a large geographical area, including Victoria and recently expanded to Tasmania, with a small team managing a significant workload.
• 🚨 The script mentions the fear and mistrust that some indigenous people have towards the police, stemming from historical and personal experiences of racism and mistreatment.
• 👮‍♂️ There is a push for better relationships between the police and indigenous communities, with the recognition that there is a need to repair past damages.
• 🛌 The CSO's work schedule is demanding, often involving long hours and interrupted sleep, reflecting the dedication required for the role.

Q & A

What is the role of the person speaking in the transcript?

The person speaking in the transcript is a Community Service Officer (CSO) working for the Aboriginal Legal Service, responsible for checking on the welfare of indigenous people in police custody.

What are the working hours of the CSO mentioned in the script?

The CSO works from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., which is a 12-hour shift.

What is the CSO's responsibility regarding individuals in police custody?

The CSO is responsible for ensuring the welfare of individuals in custody, which includes checking on their well-being and ensuring they have access to necessary support and legal advice.

Why is there a specific legal service for Aboriginal people?

There is a specific legal service for Aboriginal people because they are over-represented in the justice system, and this service aims to provide them with the necessary support and legal advice.

What is the significance of the CSO's role in preventing negative outcomes for individuals in custody?

The CSO's role is significant because they are the point of contact for individuals in custody, and if something goes wrong, such as a medical issue or death in custody, the responsibility falls on the CSO.

What challenges do the CSOs face in their work?

CSOs face challenges such as long working hours, high stress, and the emotional toll of dealing with individuals in difficult situations, including potential racism and injustice.

How does the Aboriginal Legal Service support its clients?

The Aboriginal Legal Service supports its clients by providing legal advice, ensuring they have access to legal representation, and maintaining contact to check on their welfare while in custody.

What is the CSO's experience with racism and how has it influenced their work?

The CSO has had personal experiences with racism, including being unfairly associated with a fight at a petrol station due to their race. This experience has motivated them to work with their own community to prevent such injustices.

What is the CSO's perspective on the relationship between the Aboriginal community and the police?

The CSO believes that there is a history of mistrust and negative experiences between the Aboriginal community and the police, and that there is a need to repair this relationship and make people feel safe.

How does the CSO handle the emotional stress of their job?

The CSO handles the emotional stress by relying on a supportive work environment, where they can reach out to colleagues like Gary, a senior worker, for support when needed.

What is the CSO's view on the importance of passion for one's work in their field?

The CSO believes that having a passion for working with one's own community is essential, as it drives them to provide the best support and advocacy for those in need.

Outlines

00:00

👮‍♂️ Indigenous Legal Support and Custody Concerns

The first paragraph introduces the Aboriginal Legal Service's role in monitoring the welfare of indigenous people in police custody. The speaker discusses the responsibilities of a Community Service Officer (CSO), who is on call from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., ensuring the well-being of detainees and being the point of contact for any issues that arise, including medical emergencies or deaths in custody. The CSO also addresses the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system and the importance of providing legal advice before interviews. The paragraph highlights the challenges faced by the service, including dealing with police stations and the emotional toll of the job, as well as the need for a good support system among workers.

05:04

🌆 The Scale and Impact of Legal Advocacy for Indigenous People

The second paragraph expands on the scope of the Aboriginal Legal Service's work, which now includes Tasmania in addition to Victoria. It discusses the demanding nature of the job, with workers often on call for 12-hour shifts and dealing with the physical and emotional strain that comes with it. The speaker shares a personal experience of racial profiling by the police, which underscores the importance of their work in protecting indigenous people from unfair treatment. The paragraph also touches on the historical trauma associated with police interactions and the fear that many indigenous people have towards police custody, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy and support.

10:05

🏡 Personal Stories and the Importance of Trust in Legal Services

The third paragraph delves into the personal stories of the speaker's family, who have had negative experiences with the police, leading to a limited trust in law enforcement. Despite this, the speaker's siblings work alongside the police, which is a source of concern for their father. The speaker discusses the importance of making indigenous people feel safe and the recognition by the police that there is a need to repair the relationship with the indigenous community. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's routine of working night shifts and the challenges of maintaining a work-life balance in such a demanding role.

Keywords

💡Custody

Custody refers to the state of being in the care or control of a person or authority, particularly in a legal context. In the video, it is used to describe the situation of indigenous individuals who have been detained by the police. The script mentions the responsibilities of a Community Service Officer (CSO) to check on the welfare of individuals in custody, highlighting the potential risks and the importance of ensuring their safety.

💡Aboriginal Legal Service

The Aboriginal Legal Service is an organization mentioned in the script that provides legal assistance and support to indigenous people. It plays a crucial role in advocating for the rights of these individuals within the justice system. The script illustrates the service's function through interactions between the CSO and clients, emphasizing the need for specialized support due to the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the justice system.

💡Over-representation

Over-representation in the context of the script refers to the disproportionate number of Aboriginal people involved in the justice system compared to the general population. This term is significant as it underscores a systemic issue that the Aboriginal Legal Service aims to address. The script discusses how this over-representation leads to a greater need for specialized legal services and advocacy.

💡Community Service Officer (CSO)

A Community Service Officer is a professional responsible for checking on the welfare of individuals in custody, particularly indigenous people. In the video, the CSO's role is highlighted by their interactions with clients and the police, showcasing the importance of their work in ensuring the safety and well-being of those in custody. The script mentions the 12-hour shifts and the high level of responsibility they carry.

💡Welfare

Welfare in the script refers to the well-being and health of individuals, especially those in custody. The CSO's role includes checking on the welfare of clients, which can involve monitoring for medical issues or signs of distress. The term is central to the video's theme of advocating for the rights and safety of indigenous people within the justice system.

💡Indigenous

Indigenous refers to the original inhabitants of a particular place, in this case, Aboriginal people in Australia. The script frequently uses this term to describe the clients of the Aboriginal Legal Service, emphasizing the unique challenges and experiences they face within the justice system. The video discusses the historical and ongoing issues affecting indigenous communities.

💡Racism

Racism is the discrimination or prejudice against people based on their race or ethnicity. The script includes personal accounts of racist experiences, illustrating the broader social context in which the justice system operates. These experiences highlight the need for specialized services like the Aboriginal Legal Service to counteract racial bias and ensure fair treatment.

💡Legal Advice

Legal advice is counsel given by a legal professional regarding a person's rights and obligations. In the script, the importance of legal advice is emphasized, particularly for individuals in custody who may not have access to it before being interviewed by the police. The Aboriginal Legal Service ensures that clients receive proper legal guidance to protect their rights.

💡Suicidal

Suicidal refers to thoughts or actions related to taking one's own life. In the video, the CSO assesses the risk of suicide among clients in custody, which is a critical aspect of their welfare check. The script mentions this in the context of a client who is behaving violently, indicating the need for immediate attention and support.

💡Police

The police are the law enforcement officers mentioned throughout the script. Their interactions with indigenous individuals are a central theme of the video, with discussions on the historical and current relationships between the police and Aboriginal communities. The script also touches on the efforts to build trust and improve relations between the police and the communities they serve.

💡Passion

Passion in the context of the script refers to a strong emotional drive or commitment to a cause. The video emphasizes that working for the Aboriginal Legal Service requires more than just professional skills; it necessitates a deep passion for advocating for indigenous people's rights and improving their experiences within the justice system.

Highlights

Individual in custody at the Aboriginal Legal Service due to drug-related issues.

Responsibility of a CSO to check on the welfare of individuals in custody, highlighting the potential consequences of neglect.

The Aboriginal Legal Service receives notifications for indigenous arrests and provides support from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Aboriginal people are over-represented in the justice system, indicating systemic issues.

Concerns about the lack of legal advice before police interviews for some individuals.

The importance of having a support system within the Aboriginal Legal Service to handle stress and workload.

The challenge of managing a large geographic area like Victoria and Tasmania with limited staff.

The physical and emotional toll of working long hours in legal service, impacting handwriting and recognition.

The necessity of passion for one's own people in the legal service field to ensure proper representation.

A personal account of a negative experience with police discrimination based on race.

The historical trauma associated with police interactions among Aboriginal people and its impact on trust.

The role of the Aboriginal Legal Service in providing a safe space and building trust with the police.

The issue of young Aboriginal individuals being picked up by the police and the need for support.

The personal impact of family history with police and the drive to work within the legal system to prevent similar occurrences.

The importance of recognizing historical injustices and working towards repairing the relationship between Aboriginal people and the police.

The daily routine and challenges faced by a legal service worker, including sleep patterns and the emotional burden.

A courtesy call from the Aboriginal Legal Service to inform about an arrest and the process that follows.

Transcripts

it looks like you've been in custody for

a while Bradley it's over here at the

aboriginal legal service a holding up no

I can't I can't heroin today when he was

so busy they knock and him ten bucks at

least I she started to go on the not

again there was a feeling to be her an

outlaw for salt II understand why you at

the police station

[Music]

can I just ask what he was picked up for

so he's been bailed to win sorry

8 February at Melba match Ringwood no

worries thank you we get all kind of

calls from people who are just scared

every time an indigenous person is

arrested and go through their system in

the police stations we're notified so it

all comes through to me and I'm on from

you know 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and that 12

hours I'm responsible for checking on

the welfare of these people it's a big

responsibility when you think about it

because if there's something goes wrong

while that person's in custody you know

if they have a medical issue or you know

the worst case scenario is they died in

custody that will fall back on me as a

CSO because I'm the person responsible

to call and check on the welfare over

here the aboriginal legal service that's

okay I'll ring you back a bit later we

get that a lot too like why why does

they have to be a service for Aboriginal

people specifically and the in it's the

facts the facts are that Aboriginal

people are you know over-represented in

the justice system hi Michelle it's over

here from the aboriginal legal service

are you going oh yeah not too bad it's

busy that's not too bad

yeah boys yeah yeah no worries thanks

the problem with that is that if they're

interviewing them straight away or not

then they don't have access to legal

advice before their interview that's a

problem the understand were you at the

police station yeah do you have any

family members you want me to contact

also I did you want from legal advice

what does to your interview right so

have you used or anything today are you

here under the influence of anything at

the moment okay so you're having

referrals or anything else okay so it's

been a few minutes okay so he's soap it

up yeah okay did he want to speak with

us at all do you know no worries we'll

call back and be out for alc I was going

okay we have a pretty good system our

workers are really good with each other

we have a good relationship so if I'm

very stressed I have something going on

I can always call Gary who's also senior

worker and he doesn't sleep so the three

of us that work full-time we don't

really sleep that much

I'm just calling I wanted to check in a

client about he was brought in um for

cream damage but I think he was a bit

drunk all back a bit later on it's huge

it's a huge job because Victoria is

pretty huge but also Tasmania as well

which we've only just taken on in the

last couple of months there's just one

worker and the solicitor if you were on

called you know for 12 hours at a time

by Wednesday Thursday once you've been

on for a few nights you can't even

recognize your own writing because

they're just like a dead tide it's not

just a job like they say on the police

messages um you have to have the passion

for your own people I suppose yeah yeah

what was the outcome as I just done he's

left awesome and you didn't get a ticket

for drunk so that's awesome are you okay

you're just not yeah okay so do you know

why you're there tonight

you just drove it what was gonna happen

with her tonight at the moment she's

sort of where we're getting a forensic

medical officer to come here to save you

can I have a chat to her just because

I'm probably not our respective own

she's made now quite violent in the

cells at the moment so we're just gonna

check on it do you think she's at risk

of suicidal she hasn't expressed any

suicidal thoughts to me she's screaming

her favorite and banging on the cell

door a little bit so she's she's in

there at the moment

[Music]

hey I'm just calling you and giving you

a courtesy call regarding Melissa just

letting you know that she is currently

at the police station and she's been

arrested they're gonna interview her so

once she's been interviewed I'll give

you a call back in let you know what's

happening yeah okay doll all right I'll

call you back a bit later okay thank you

no problems

I had a really bad experience with

police in South Australia where I went

into the petrol station just to get some

petrol and they had been a fight at that

station like five minutes before with

Aboriginal people and the police showed

up and they had said all you black

people need to get out and I said what

are you talking about I've just showed

up to pay for petrol but because I was

black I was immediately associated with

everyone else that was there and was

ordered to get out and if I didn't leave

I was going to be arrested and I had

worked as a field officer at that time

so I said I wouldn't your name your

badge number and it wasn't until the

next day that it was like my brother I

think I was shocked because he just

walked out with his head down and I

that's my older brother so I was like

are you serious

like you just accepted that so yeah that

kind of led me to think well I'd rather

work in with my own people make sure

that doesn't happen because I think that

too often people think that's the way it

is and they accept it and it shouldn't

be accepted

you're okay at the moment yeah and you

got mom and dad coming down or someone

to come down you don't know all right

what I'll do is call back a bit later

and see how you're getting on she was

like yeah no I'm fine

if I was in the place changing I'd be

like crying my eyes out but she's like

nah I'm fine she's only 14 but this

sadly though that's like not the first

time kid's been picked up things like

the youngest one was 10 and he is on ice

as well say yeah that was like awful for

Aboriginal people it's the history there

too

back in the day being being held by

police could only mean about Nick

something really bad and I couldn't

speak for everyone but I know that then

it's usually they're afraid to be locked

up by police because it's a scary thing

and it's yeah just some that's probably

one of the biggest issues that most of

our clients have is just being scared

that they're there in custody if you ask

people our age and we're like it not

even 30 yet if we've had a racist

experiences with

please nine times out of ten we'll say

yes we have yeah well she's popped up on

our systems did you check with her oh

[Music]

yeah maybe I'm asked her and when we

call back we might see if she yeah see

what she says

I've had people say how much Aboriginal

are you and I find that offensive

because I wouldn't ask that person how

wide are you they wrote about my father

they said he's a half-caste so you know

he can integrate with the white society

and he was taken by police in his place

in a really bad you know home for boys

and he had a lot of bad stuff happen on

my mom's side her parents were both

taken as well so they were all taken by

police and then trust of the police is

very limited so yeah but all my brothers

and sisters ended up like working

alongside police which is my dad's worst

nightmare it's like y'all my kids work

with police and he said I'll never pass

it on that's my life not yours so he's

pretty cool we still have a long way to

go in terms of building a relationship

with police our people feel more

protected here because their services

and they know that there's someone

that's going to call they know our

lawyers are going to chase them up and

they know that if they don't answer

their phone that we'll go to their house

and see if they're home they know that

but it's all about making people feel

safe and I think that police recognize

that that's an issue too with our people

and that's the first step is recognize

from that yep there's a history there

and we need to start repairing it and

yeah I'm all for that

so I'm just gonna go back to sleep until

5 o'clock probably get up have something

to eat like breakfast and then sleep

again until about 8 o'clock it's not all

over again

and then the guys will take over during

the day and sorry they'll be I'll be

pretty busy hi Bree its LV here at the

Victorian Aboriginal legal service how

are you getting there he's gone is he no

problems thank you very much

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