Background:It is well established that First Nations Peoples in Australia are
overrepresented within the criminal justice system. However, First Nations
Peoples appear to be comparatively underrepresented in the forensic mental
health system, and little is known about their outcomes once released from
secure care.Objective:To compare the characteristics and rates of repeat criminal justice contact
for a criminal charge of First Nations and non-First Nations forensic
patients in New South Wales.Methods:Data on the sample were extracted from the New South Wales Mental Health
Review Tribunal paper and electronic files matched to the Bureau of Crime
Statistics and Research Reoffending Database. Characteristics of First
Nations and non-First Nations patients were compared using univariate
logistic regression analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional
hazard regression was used to determine predictors of post-release criminal
charges.Results:Key differences in the sociodemographic, clinical and forensic
characteristics of First Nations compared with non-First Nations forensic
patients were identified. The time to first criminal justice contact
following release was significantly shorter for First Nations forensic
patients (p< 0.01).Conclusion:The findings of this study confirm that First Nations forensic patients have
distinct and complex needs that are apparent at entry to the forensic mental
health system and that their poorer criminal justice contact rates following
release from secure care indicate that these needs are not being adequately
met either during treatment or once in the community. Responses to these
study findings must consider the complex and continuing impact of
colonisation on First Nations Peoples, as well as the need for solutions to
be culturally safe.