I am live in a community 200km from the nearest town. The police picked me up the other day and locked me up for breaking into the school and stealing a car. It was not me. I need to talk to a lawyer about this as it is unfair and the police did the wrong thing. They should not have arrested me at work. If they had of asked I could have just come down to the station after work. They roughed me up a bit at the station as well. They have the wrong guy. I want some compensation too as my arm still hurts. How can I talk to a lawyer?
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Answer by Kate Dodgson, Brisbane 4000 QLD
- Many of the Aboriginal legal services and Legal Aid services go to remote communities. For example the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia has 14 regional and remote offices in Western Australia in addition to its office in Perth.
- Generally they will send a lawyer to court on the date your case is listed. You must go to court on that day and you will get a chance to speak with a lawyer. They will be able to talk to you about your criminal case and your claim against the police for hurting your arm.
- Do not worry too much if the first time you get to speak to a lawyer is on the day of court. These lawyers have experience in representing people who live in remote communities and running cases from a distance.
- It is a good idea to call your state or territory ATSIL or NATSIL to ask them how you can access their legal services. You may be able to talk to your lawyer before the first court day. Please refer to the list in Overview to find out the name of the organisation in your area.