Tom Calma, the outgoing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, has urged to shift focus on crime prevention in Indigenous communities. He has, therefore, launched his sixth and final Social Justice and Native Title Report.

In his report, he has explicitly recommended diverting funds spent on imprisonment to local Indigenous communities where there is a high concentration of offenders.

The justice reinvestment has proved to be very efficient and smooth in other countries, says Commissioner Calma.

“You get an offender and you put them through the best resources, the most effective rehabilitation programs but if they are returning to the community with few opportunities, their chances of staying out of prison are very limited.”

The report includes several other recommendations which talk about protecting Indigenous languages and culture and reforming the native title system.

Commissioner Calma will step down from his post in a week’s time but before that he has said that better prevention programs were needed to target problems like substance abuse and chronic unemployment to help drive down the imprisonment statistis.