SPECIAL RIGHTS

When an Aborigine or Torres Strait Islander is arrested, the Officer in Charge of the police station where the person is taken should ensure that:

information on the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (ALRM) services must, if available, be given
the name and the nature of the charge is supplied to the ALRM, if the accused consents
every practical effort to obtain a field officer from ALRM to arrange bail or give legal advice is made, if the accused requests
any telephone call (apart from a local call) be charged to the accused or, if he or she cannot afford to pay, to the ALRM if they agree to accept a reverse charge call
field officers assisting an accused obtain the same facilities as a lawyer, relative or friend
if questioning a tribal or semi-tribal Aborigine about a serious offence, either a lawyer or an Aboriginal field officer is present. In special circumstances where the expertise of the Department for Family and Youth Services is needed, an Officer of the department may be called. If possible, those attending should have some understanding of the accused's language
if questioning an Aborigine under 18 about a serious offence, a parent, guardian or Aboriginal field officer is present whenever possible.