Doin Time Marisa

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody.In this episode Marisa hosts a special 2024 tribute to the life of Uncle Ray Jackson. Uncle Ray was a Wiradjuri warrior who dedicated his life to fighting for justice and human rights for Aboriginal people affected by the so-called criminal justice system, and all people affected by state violence. A vocal and knowledgeable Deaths in Custody campaigner, and long-time President of the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA), Uncle Ray received the prestigious French Human Rights, with the Australian state (despite its long history of atrocities) never allocating an award to him. The first tribute features Dr. Maria Giannacopoulos, Director of the Centre for Criminology Law and Justice at UNSW. As a distinguished scholar in decolonizing approaches to law and criminology, Dr. Maria Giannacopoulos reflects on Uncle Ray's invaluable activism, sharing insights and perspectives with Marisa on his enduring impact.Also joining the show is Carolyn Jackson, who shares heartfelt reflections on her father, Uncle Ray, discussing his lifelong commitment to human rights and his fight for justice for all.      

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody.This week, Negar Panahi is welcomed to the show to discuss her work as Principal Managing Lawyer at Victorian Legal Service, and her advocacy around reducing the criminalisation of children and for more diversion opportunities for young people.  Also on the show is Meena Singh, a proud Yorta Yorta woman and Commissioner for Victorian Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria. She joins Marisa to discuss her work in advancing the rights and interests of Aboriginal children and young people in Victoria, and how to address the over-representation of Aboriginal children in child protection and the youth justice system.  

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody.To begin the show Marisa is joined by Aunty Glenda Chalker, an Elder of the Cubbitch Barta Clan, and descendant of a survivor of the 1816 Appin massacre. As well as Peter Jones, a Campbelltown resident and community worker who helps facilitate the Annual Appin Massacre Memorial. They discuss the importance of the upcoming April 17th Appin Massacre Memorial Ceremony by the Winga Myamly Reconciliation Group in honour of the Dharawal People who perished in the massacre of 1816. After that, we hear from David Glanz of the Refugee Action Collective, who talks about the recent change in government legislation and its consequential violation of the most basic human rights for refugees and asylum seekers. 

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody.In this episode, Marisa reads from and responds to the final report from the Disability Royal Commission. Following this, Marisa shares some audio from the 'TJ Hickey: 20 Years and still no justice' speak-out that was held at the State Library Victoria on the 17th February. Featured speakers include, Sarah Schwartz, the manager of the Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability Practise at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and a lecturer at the Melbourne Law School, as well as Ilo Diaz, the advocacy coordinator for the Police Accountability Project, and Cheryl Klaufuss of the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA) 

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody.On this show Marisa is joined by Sarah Schwartz, the manager of the Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability Practise at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and a lecturer at the Melbourne Law School. Following on from last weeks discussion, they talk about inquests into deaths in custody, and how the state of the parole system has been a causal factor in some of these cases. The conversation includes a discussion about Heather Calgaret, a Yamatji, Noongar, Wongi and Pitjantjatjara woman who died in custody in 2021. Heather had been eligible for parole for nearly a year, but rermained in prison because she had no suitable place to live. Marisa also reads some extracts from  People with Disability Australia's formal response to The Disability Royal Commission. 

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody.First on the show is Chloe de Silva, who is an activist with the Refugee Action Collective, a member of the Socialist Alliance and presenter of the Friday breakfast time ’Green Left Weekly Radio’ show, which has its home here on 3CR Radio. Chloe talks in commemoration of Reza Barati’s horrifically brutal murder, in which he was beaten to death by guards and other contractors during a violent rampage inside the Manus Island detention centre in 2014. Reza Barati was 23 when he was murdered. She discusses Australia’s brutal and cruel border policies and the ongoing struggle faced by refugees and their families in their fight for basic human rights.An event hosted by the Refugee Action Collective called 'Why does Labor support corrupt and racist border policies?' Will be held at the Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre in Carlton on 18th March at 6.30pm.Next up on the show is Ilo Diaz, the advocacy coordinator for the Police Accountability Project, which is associated with Inner Melbourne Community Legal. Ilo reports back on the 17th of February Speak Out at Melbourne’s State Library that was held to commemorate the tragic death of 17 year old TJ Hickey, in 2014. The event was organised by mother of TJ, Gail Hickey, who is still seeking truth and justice for her son. The conversation also discusses topics such as police accountability and the failure of police mechanisms to adequately investigate police complaints. Last on the show, Marisa talks with Sarah Schwartz, who was a speaker at the TJ Hickey Speak Out, and is the manager of the Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability Practise at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, as well as a lecturer at the Melbourne Law School. Sarah talks about her work in taking action against the police, protecting the rights of prisoners, and coronial inquests into Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander deaths in custody. She has previously represented the family of Veronica Nelson, who died in custody in January 2020, and is currently attending court for the coronial inquest of Heather Calgaret who also died in custody on November 2021. They discuss these cases in terms of prison healthcare, Victoria’s harsh system of parole, and how this has lead to the violation of human rights and contributed to the mistreatment of people in prison.Since the Royal Commission into deaths in custody, there have been over 560 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody. Sarah highlights the bravery and determination of the families fighting for justice on behalf of their loved ones who have died in custody, and highlights the importance of such organisations as the Dhadjowa Foundation in supporting their struggle.