Insufficient work has been done on Aboriginal perceptions of imprisonment, or on how alternative sentencing measures work in Aboriginal communities. This makes the reform of the criminal justice system as it affects Aboriginal people, and monitoring the effectiveness or otherwise of any such reforms, much more difficult. A primary need is for a national collection of law and justice statistics which specifically identify Aboriginal offenders. Only in this way can an authoritative picture be developed of the type of offences committed by Aborigines and how they are dealt with by the courts. It might also enable further research into offences committed and more insight to be obtained into the reasons for them.
Most offences committed by Aborigines involve alcohol or are alcohol-related.
Aspects of the relationship between alcohol, offences and customary laws have been referred to in this Report. As with alcohol, petrol sniffing is a cause of great concern in many Aboriginal communities. Petrol sniffing is not an offence but it often leads to other offences being committed, and has a significantly detrimental effect on health, the full scope of which has not been determined. It is an urgent problem, calling for research and action - though not necessarily for the imposition of new legal sanctions. Where special rules or institutions are established by governments in Aboriginal communities, or general rules or institutions are changed in ways which may have significant impacts on them, studies need to be carried out in consultation with those communities about the effects of these changes.