General
From jail to in-demand speaker: The disability royal commission hears Justen’s story
A First Nations man with cognitive disability has told a public inquiry his criminal record is like a “life sentence” that makes it hard to break the cycle of crime and move on with his life.
Key points:
- Justen Thomas was giving evidence this week as part of the disability royal commission’s examination of the criminal justice system
- The inquiry heard diversion programs are needed to keep people with cognitive disability out of courts and jails
- Mr Thomas, now in demand as a speaker and trainer, said he wanted his record pardoned so he could be “set free”
Now working as an advocate supporting others in the criminal justice system, Justen Thomas wants people with cognitive disability to be pardoned for their criminal past.
The…
Continue Reading