Murri Court

Murri Court is a specialist, less formal, culturally appropriate sentencing court that integrates cultural considerations into the justice process by supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants to achieve culturally equitable, community-based sentencing outcomes.


Locally Recognised Elders’ or Respected Persons’ walk alongside defendants who are expected to take responsibility for their actions and engage with culturally appropriate support services to address underlying contributors to offending, focused on rehabilitation, and reducing reoffending.

What Murri Court aims to do

Murri Court aims to:

  • engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in the Murri Court process
  • administer a culturally appropriate and respectful court process
  • refer defendants to community services and support that address underlying contributors to their offending
  • assist magistrates to understand defendants’ cultural and personal circumstances, rehabilitation efforts and ongoing support needs.

Murri Court Goals

Murri Court works to:

  • reduce the frequency and seriousness of later offending behaviour
  • encourage defendants’ to take responsibility for their actions and understand their impact on victims and the community
  • encourage magistrates to consider at sentencing, how the defendants’ cultural and personal circumstances contributed to the offending
  • encourage defendants’ to attend and engage with support services while on bail
  • facilitate improvements to defendants’ physical and psychological health and quality of life
  • improve defendants’ engagement and understanding of the court process
  • improve confidence and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders’ and Respected Persons’, in the court process.

Reviews and evaluation

An independent evaluation of Murri Court was completed in 2019. For more information, please visit the resources webpage.

Where to find Murri Courts

Murri Courts operate in Magistrates and Childrens Courts in:

  • Brisbane
  • Caboolture
  • Cairns
  • Cherbourg
  • Cleveland
  • Ipswich
  • Mackay
  • Maroochydore
  • Mount Isa
  • Richlands
  • Rockhampton
  • St George
  • Toowoomba
  • Townsville
  • Wynnum

View the contact details for each location.

The Murri Court artist

The Murri Court graphic design was created by Gilimbaa artist David Williams. David is a proud Wakka Wakka man born in Rockhampton, now based in Brisbane.

Murri Court David Williams