Published Aug 20 2021

‘What Happens Next?’: Why Is the Rate of Black Deaths in Custody So High?

Jacinta
Elston
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) and Head, William Cooper Institute
Kate burns
Lecturer, Criminology, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts
Susan carland
Academic, author and social commentator
Meena singh
Legal Director of the Human Rights Law Centre

Over the next two episodes of the What Happens Next? podcast, we’ll take a look at Indigenous incarceration in Australia.

More than 30 years ago, a royal commission was set up to investigate black deaths in custody, but what did we learn from that inquiry? Why are Indigenous incarceration rates in this country still so high? 

Our guests are Monash University’s Professor Jacinta Elston, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island human rights lawyer Meena Singh, and criminologist Dr Kate Burns.

“We've had a history that has deliberately given us disadvantage over the period of 230-odd years.”

Meena Singh

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About the Authors

  • Jacinta elston

    Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) and Head, William Cooper Institute

    Professor Jacinta Elston, an Aboriginal woman from Townsville in North Queensland is the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at Monash University. She is the current Chair of Cancer Australia’s Leadership Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control. Her career has focused on Indigenous health and Indigenous higher education, and she has contributed many years of service on state and federal ministerial appointments, and the boards of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

  • Kate burns

    Lecturer, Criminology, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts

    Kate is a criminologist with wide public-sector experience. Prior to taking up her academic position at Monash, she worked in various public policy positions in the United Kingdom with a focus on the criminal justice system.

  • Susan carland

    Director, Bachelor of Global Studies, and Lecturer, School of Language, Literature, Cultures and Linguistics

    Susan's research and teaching specialties focus on gender, sociology, contemporary Australia, terrorism, and Islam in the modern world. Susan hosted the “Assumptions” series on ABC’s Radio National, and was named one of the 20 Most Influential Australian Female Voices in 2012 by The Age.

  • Meena singh

    Legal Director of the Human Rights Law Centre

    Legal Director of the Human Rights Law Centre

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