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McClintic, Veronica --- "Working for the DPP" [1997] IndigLawB 91; (1997) 4(6) Indigenous Law Bulletin 20

Working for the DPP

By Veronica McClintic

A considerable amount can be achieved by Aboriginal people working within Government legal departments, on well–targeted programs, and here is a description of some of the work I am doing in the Northern Territory, to give an example of what is possible.

Since finishing law school at the University of NSW in 1987, I completed my articles with the Northern Territory Attorney–General’s Department, staying there to work as a Crown Prosecutor for 2 years. Following that I practised commercial law for 5 years. Presently I am working as the Aboriginal Support Co–ordinator in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (‘the DPP’) in Darwin. My position was created by our present Director, Mr Rex Wild QC, who identified a need to create within the office an awareness of the issues that affect Aboriginal victims and other witnesses.

My duties include:

  1. Providing policy advice to the DPP and other Government and non–Government agencies on issues affecting victims of crime, including Aboriginal victims of crime.
  2. Formulating recommendations for the DPP and Government regarding amendments to legislation, Government policy and practice as it particularly affects Aboriginal victims of crime.
  3. Liaising with Aboriginal groups and organisations on issues relating to Aboriginal victims of crime.
  4. Representing the Victim Support Unit on relevant committees, and facilitating networking with agencies.
  5. Conducting education for the public and prosecutors regarding issues affecting Aboriginal victims of crime.
  6. Liaising with other relevant community organisations to establish a court support system in Magistrates Courts in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs, and the Supreme Court in Darwin.
  7. Providing victim and witness support to Aboriginal people.

There is an immense and continuing need for support for Aboriginal victims and other witnesses of crime in

the Northern Territory. Aboriginal people comprise approximately 27% of the population of the Northern Territory, but provide about 70% of those imprisoned (unpublished estimates by Courts Administration, NT). Most of these crimes are committed by Aboriginal people against other Aboriginal people and consequently there are a significant number of Aboriginal crown witnesses. It is also to be noted that a significant number of these people speak an Aboriginal language before English, are bound to some extent by customary law and reside in a remote community.

It is my personal view that any given area of employment that provides a service to the community should reflect the needs of the client group. The client’s needs should be reflected through the employment of people who have the ‘necessary’ qualifications. Apart from the usual standard of qualifications such as education and experience which would be necessary for a particular job, selection criteria should include specific qualifications where necessary, that are suggestive of the need to attract Aboriginal people, where for example your main client group is Aboriginal, as in the case of the criminal justice system in the Northern Territory. The numbers of those persons with these specific qualifications ought to reflect the number of the particular client group that is being served. Funding and resources should also be allocated accordingly. And obviously the services delivered should be reflective of and appropriate to the needs of the client group. In response to the large number of Aboriginal victims and witnesses our office has pursued a number of significant initiatives that I believe are reflective of, and appropriate to, the needs of our client group, including:

Victim support

A pro–active policy has been adopted for the delivery of victim and witness support, in order to address their specific difficulties. Attempts are made to contact victims and other witnesses as soon as possible, so that assessments can be made in order to identify language difficulties, cultural issues and many other matters that may be relevant, and then to respond so that they are prepared and supported through the court process. This includes:

they have.

Since provision of victim support, it has been observed that victims and other witnesses are better informed about their rights and obligations. They are much more sure of themselves and able to ‘get their story across’.

Employment of Aboriginal staff within the DPP

Apart from myself, the other Aboriginal staff include two victim support officers, one in Darwin and the other in Alice Springs, an articled clerk, a legal secretary and a cadet (first year law student). Incidentally, this is the first time that the Northern Territory DPP has employed more than one Aboriginal person and it has proved to be very positive as their input into the delivery of our service is invaluable.

Cross cultural awareness

Staff in the DPP are encouraged to attend cross cultural awareness courses which give them an opportunity to focus on cross cultural issues, particularly those arising with Aboriginal people. Unfortunately, a significant number of Aboriginal victims and witnesses come before the criminal justice system in the Northern Territory. They have language and cultural needs that are, and will continue to be, a challenge. Our office has recognised the special needs that Aboriginal people have and is moving towards meeting those needs in an appropriate way. Consequently, through the participation of indigenous people such as myself in these initiatives, Aboriginal victims and other witnesses now come closer to receiving fairer and more just treatment by the courts.


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