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 The Dharriwaa Elders Group negotiates how circle sentencing will work in Walgett.
Circle Sentencing has been trialled by indigenous communities in other countries, and is being rolled out in NSW. It is a crime prevention initiative which allows magistrates to refer guilty offenders to a circle of elders of their community, for sentencing. The plan is to reduce the numbers of our people going to jail, and reduce re-offending. Apparently in Nowra and Dubbo it has achieved these aims dramatically, through the voluntary work of Aboriginal elders.
Since 2003, the Walgett elders negotiated with the NSW Dept of the Attorney General about how circle sentencing will happen in Walgett. The Department has not accepted any of the DEG's proposals, but despite this, the DEG has planned processes and protocols for the circle courts which one day may be implemented. Circle Sentencing offers hope to our community which loses too many to the jail system.
The Walgett Circle first met in June 2006. To date none of those who have appeared before the first Walgett circles have been reconvicted. For at least a year since then the NSW Attorney Generals Dept found it difficult to employ a Project Officer. The project has only recently begun again and is in its early development.
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Above left: Representatives of the Dharriwaa Elders Group at Jinchilla Gardens, the Dubbo circle sentencing venue, with Russell Ryan, Ros Barker, Lesley Tighe and Elizabeth Biles. Right: DEG Speaker George Rose welcomes Nowra and Dubbo Circle Sentencing elders, local police and court workers at an information sharing session in Walgett November 2004.
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Above: The first Walgett Circle, its members selected by the offender, met in June 2006. They are Virginia Robinson, Richard Lake, George Williams, with the then NSW Attorney Generals Dept project officer Lesley Tighe, Valerie Collis, George Rose, Tom Martin.
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