Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

Aboriginal community courts will return in the NT after legislation passes parliament. Here's how they will work

Community courts are set to return in the NT, more than 10 years after they were last used. (ABC News: Hamish Harty)

Legislation passed by the Northern Territory parliament this week will pave the way for Aboriginal elders and leaders to have a say on what sentences First Nations offenders should receive. 

The Sentencing Legislation Amendment Bill is the legislation that will govern community courts in the NT — a system that allows cultural components to be incorporated into the criminal sentences of Aboriginal people, who currently make up about 85 per cent of the territory's prison population.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.