By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Queensland Government Fails to Act on Alarming Report on Disabilities in Justice System
The Queensland government has not taken action on the findings of a report that exposes the severe and troubling experiences of individuals with disabilities within the criminal justice system. The report, commissioned by the Department of Justice and Attorney General in 2022, highlights instances of brutality, mistreatment, and systemic failures.
The unpublished report, obtained by Guardian Australia via a Right to Information request, includes detailed accounts from people with disabilities, particularly those held in police watch houses. This follows an investigation revealing distressing footage of young people, including a 13 year old girl with a severe intellectual disability, suffering "abominable" treatment in police watch houses and isolation cells.
Completed by a team of University of Queensland academics in June 2023, the research presents 40 recommendations aimed at improving the justice system, including the development of a state disability justice strategy. Despite the significance of these findings, the full report was never publicly released, and only a brief 10 page summary was published, omitting both first hand accounts and calls for reform.
The report includes poignant case studies, such as Michael, a man with a psychosocial disability, who described harsh conditions in police cells, and JA, a man with cognitive and psychosocial disabilities, who recounted being violently handled by police. Another case involved Robert, a First Nations man with a psychosocial disability, who detailed police brutality during his youth.
These personal recollections illustrate how people with disabilities can feel trapped in abusive situations and coerced into illegal behavior, often without adequate support or understanding of their rights. The report also notes failures in police communication and support, leading to confusion and anxiety among disabled individuals.
The recommendations emphasize the need for comprehensive disability justice strategies, both for the general population and specifically for First Nations people, to better support and recognize disabilities within the justice system.
Matilda Alexander, CEO of Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion, criticized the government for not releasing the report, arguing that it demonstrates systemic failures at all levels of the criminal justice system. She suggested that implementing the report's recommendations could reduce crime and improve community safety.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Attorney General stated that the government is considering the report in the context of the Disability Royal Commission's recommendations and is committed to addressing the needs of those with disabilities in the justice system. However, they denied blocking the report's release, citing routine academic consultations that are not always made public. The government has pledged to use the report to inform future work in this area, ensuring the voices and needs of Queenslanders with disabilities are heard.
