New research released today by the Australian Institute of Criminology once again shows that criminal justice spending would be better directed towards ‘front end’ early intervention programs rather than at the ‘back end’ of the system in the form of imprisonment costs, the Australian Greens said.

 “The research draws a clear link between poor language skills in young people and increased risk of antisocial behaviour, which could then lead to criminal behaviour,” Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs, Senator Penny Wright said.

The Greens have used National Close the Gap Day to highlight that the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous imprisonment rates is wider than it has ever been.

Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs, Senator Penny Wright, is calling upon the Federal Government and its COAG partners to add a target for reducing the number of Indigenous people in Australia's prisons, to existing Closing the Gap targets on health, education and employment.