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2022 Sound Stories

Indigenous incarceration in the ACT

A black and white photo of a sign at the front of the AMC warning visitors
Front gate entrance to the Alexander Maconochie Centres (Photo: Aaron Evans)

At the time of writing, there were 383 people locked up in the ACT prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centres. While a quarter of those incarcerated identify as Indigenous, the ABS estimates that only 1.9% of the ACT population is Indigenous.

In January, the ACT Council of Social Services and Winunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services released a joint statement expressing concern at the high representation of Indigenous people in the AMC.

So, why are there so many Indigenous people in the AMC?