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Fw: MORE ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY/AUSTRALIA (fwd)
Robert Johnson (johnsorl@COLORADO.EDU)
Thu, 3 Aug 1995 16:32:55 -0600
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 3 Aug 1995 17:24:49 -0600 (CST)
From: Alan Spector <spector@calumet.purdue.edu>
To: Racial-Religious-EthnoNationalist Violence Studies
<revs@csf.colorado.edu>
Subject: Fw: MORE ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY/AUSTRALIA
The following press release appeared on the Progressive Sociologists
Network. I'm forwarding it to REVS because it might be of interest to some
REVS members..........(Alan Spector)
forwarded message follows:
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From: "Stuart Russell" <STUART@LAW.LAW.MQ.EDU.AU>
Date: Tue, 1 Aug 1995 17:06:55 GMT+1000
To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK <psn@csf.colorado.edu>
Subject: MORE ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY/AUSTRALIA
PRESS RELEASE
6 DEATHS IN 6 WEKES IS TOO MUCH
"At least 6 deaths in 6 weeks of Aboriginal prisoners dramatically --
and sadly -- highlights the problem of deaths in custody nationally
and the absolute lack of proper daily utilisatino of the Royal
Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Recommendations," said
Ray Jackson of the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Watch Committee.
Three deaths have occurred in South Australian jails since June 16th
this year (5 since 1st January), 2 in New South Wales as an outcome
of a police high speed car chase (5 since 1st January) and 1 death in
Queensland, the hanging of Mark Couchy.
"The 5 jail deaths so far this year in South Australia is extremely
worrying," said Ray Jackson. "The moreso when 3 were death by
hanging and 2 were heart attacks. Information given to the Watch
Committee shows a complete breakdown of the South Australian prison
medical service whereby prisoners presented themselves for treatment,
only to be returned to their cells (in 1 case solitary confinement)
where the deaths occurred."
A minimum of 19 Royal Commission recommendations were breached or
ignored in the South Australian cases and there are probably breaches
in the Queensland cases also.
"We appear to be having a dialogue with the deaf about proper
utilisation of the Royal Commission recommendations," said Ray
Jackson. "Nothing we say seems to make any difference to those in
control of the police and the prisons. We MUST have daily
utilisation of the Royal Commission recommendations in all areas of
the custodial system before anyone can expect a turnaround in these
horrendous and unnecessary deaths."
Now is the time for ALL Federal, State and Territory governments to
take positive and firm actoin on the proper implementation of the
Royal Commission recommendations. The national death rate is at
least 75 since May 1989. Governments must clearly recognise why the
Royal Commission was held and take charge of the recommendations.
For further information contact Ray Jackson at the Aboriginal Deaths
in Custody Watch Committee. Tel.: (61)(2) 264-9895, fax 264-9916.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stuart Russell Stuart@uriah.law.mq.edu.au
School of Law fax (61)(2) 850-7686
Macquarie University tel (61)(2) 850-7861
North Ryde N.S.W. 2109
AUSTRALIA "Ce n'est qu'un debut!"
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