Putting ‘Justice’ in Recovery Capital: Yarning about Hopes and Futures with Young People in Detention

Sharynne Lee Hamilton,Sarah Maslen,Jacinta Freeman,Tracy Reibel,Rochelle Watkins,Raewyn Mutch,Melissa O'Donnell,David Best

doi:10.5204/ijcjsd.v9i2.1256

Abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are over-represented in Australian youth detention centres and the justice system. In contrast to deficit-focused approaches to health and justice research, this article engages with the hopes, relationships and educational experiences of 38 detained youth in Western Australia who participated in a study of screening and diagnosis for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. We report on a qualitative study that used a ‘social yarning’ approach. While the participants reported lives marred by substance use, crime, trauma and neurodevelopmental disability, they also spoke of strong connections to country and community, their education experiences and their future goals. In line with new efforts for a ‘positive youth justice’ and extending on models of recovery capital, we argue that we must celebrate success and hope through a process of mapping and building recovery capital in the justice context at an individual and institutional level.

Highlights

Indigenous peoples are over-incarcerated (Reitano 2017; Ulmer and Bradley 2018)
Diagnosis is indicated for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) [FASD], neurodevelopmental impairments [NI] and participants without diagnosis [WD]
The Aboriginal participants spoke of cultural activity: ‘I’m happy being with family, like getting out on country like and learning about medicines and catching bush meat’; ‘I’m really happy when I go hunting goanna and turtle with my dad’; and ‘I like fishing with Pop’

Summary

Introduction

Indigenous peoples are over-incarcerated (Reitano 2017; Ulmer and Bradley 2018). In Australia, the fabric of Aboriginal and Torres Strait law and society was disrupted by the intrusion of white settlers, and colonisation was advanced by policies and practices such as the forced removal of children from their parents, families and communities; compulsory land relinquishment and restricted freedoms through incarceration (De Maio et al 2005; Memmott et al 2001). This resulted in a pattern of over-incarceration, which is a situation that increases the likelihood that trauma and colonisation are continued (Blagg 2008; Rynne and Cassematis 2015)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion