Some Australian governments keep intellectually disabled Aboriginal people not guilty of a crime in prison. They see this as a cost saving solution to meeting their high level of needs.

Roseanne is 26 years old. Born with foetal alcohol brain damage, she was left to endure horrific neglect and sexual abuse from her infant years even though her situation was known to various welfare authorities.  

I worked as a cop in the NT for years, and now act as Roseanne's adult guardian. As a young adult, despite being a high needs client of NT Health, she ended up under indefinite WA prison supervision when found ‘unfit to plead’ to minor offences. For nearly two years she phoned me, distraught and begging for help.

It is unjust and cruel that people with intellectual disabilities can end up in indefinite prison-based supervision when not legally guilty of a crime. Even more so when, like Roseanne, they have suffered a lifetime of neglect and abuse.

After a huge change.org campaign freed Roseanne two years ago, she was returned to the care of the NT Government. Unhappily, despite the public outcry, they have not followed through with any enduring commitment to her care, leaving her exposed to risk and further imprisonment. They continue to be addicted to prison solutions. We have to stop this abuse.

In just 3 weeks, Roseanne will again be released from prison.

I'm asking Malcolm Turnbull & Aboriginal Minister Nigel Scullion to urgently intervene to give Roseanne a chance – this is perhaps her last hope of rescue from the unjust treatment that awaits so many children born with foetal alcohol brain damage.