Engaging First Nations Australians in Correctional Treatment: The Perspectives of Program Recipients and Facilitators

• Published in: Criminal Justice and Behavior
• Main Authors: Trudgett, Meaghan, Mcgrath, Andrew, Spaccavento, Bianca
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2023
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00938548231207059; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00938548231207059; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/00938548231207059

Developing and delivering effective rehabilitation programs that meet the specific needs of First Nations people and overcome barriers to engagement has been suggested as a way to address the overrepresentation of First Nations Australians in the correctional system. This project used a critical realist epistemology to understand perceptions of First Nations people participating in rehabilitation programs to contribute to improvements in treatment responsivity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five First Nations people serving community-based orders and five First Nations Program Facilitators. The data were analyzed thematically. Four overarching themes emerged: (a) the importance of culture and colonization, (b) intrinsic motivation to change, (c) communication and language: the role of the First Nations facilitator, and (d) connection: life after jail. These findings highlight the need for cultural healing as a crucial factor for programs aimed at First Nations Australians.