Papers and submissions

RLC's submission highlights limited funding available to legal service providers and over-policing leading to an overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals within the criminal justice system.

In the year of 2011-2012, 6.1% of Redfern Legal Centre's clients identified as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 30.6% were of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

RLC has a priority access policy for ATSI clients. In 2010, we provided legal services to some 3000 individuals from Redfern and surrounding areas, approximately 200 of whom identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

While RLC does not generally represent people in court who have been charged with criminal matters, we have regular contact with people who are subject to bail conditions and are experiencing other consequences as a result.

The RLC opposes any increase in the sentencing jurisdiction of the Local Court.