Justice Matters

Justice Matters

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Via Change.org/JusticeMatters, started byCouncil for Intellectual Disability

“My name is Justen Thomas. I am a 43 year old Aboriginal man with an intellectual disability and epilepsy. I was homeless as a young person and I started to get fines for sleeping on trains. I was never able to pay my fines and it escalated to a big issue where I was getting locked up for fines. When I got arrested I didn’t understand the police or the court system and I ended up in prison many times. The cycle ended when I finally got the help and ...

Via Change.org/JusticeMatters, started byCouncil for Intellectual Disability

“My name is Justen Thomas. I am a 43 year old Aboriginal man with an intellectual disability and epilepsy. I was homeless as a young person and I started to get fines for sleeping on trains. I was never able to pay my fines and it escalated to a big issue where I was getting locked up for fines. When I got arrested I didn’t understand the police or the court system and I ended up in prison many times. The cycle ended when I finally got the help and support I needed.

Getting the right help turned my life around. I haven’t been in prison now since 2004 and I don’t intend to go back either.

I got support from Youth Shopfront and then from IDRS (Intellectual Disability Rights Service). IDRS run the JAS (Justice Advocacy Service) which only has funding until June this year. IDRS also ran a very good diversion programme called the Cognitive Impairment Diversion Programme (CIDP).The funding for CIDP ended in June 2020.

Please help me help people with cognitive disability who end up in the justice system get the help and support they need.

 

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Email your local Member of Parliament

Council for Intellectual Disability is asking you to email your elected representatives and ask them to email the Premier and the Attorney General to secure long-term funding for vitally important help, support and diversion programmes for people with cognitive disability who get caught up in the justice system.  

Today, can you send a quick, pre-written email to your MP? If you edit the email in any way, please remain polite and respectful at all times. 

 

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If you edit the email in any way, please remain polite and respectful at all times.