A forum has called for better integration between Aboriginal communities and the justice system amid an increase in the number of Indigenous people in Canberra's jail.

Packed into a small lecture hall at the Australian National University, the panel included ACT politicians, community service workers, academics and members of the Galambany circle sentencing court.

One panellist, Aboriginal woman Traci Harris, brought attention to the success of restorative justice programs for indigenous offenders.

"Galambany court is a good conjugate between the criminal justice system and the aboriginal community," she said.

"To engage our people in a reciprocal process where we do not shame them, but we bring them back into their families, their people.

"[It reinforces] to them how their behaviour affects our communities, how they can take responsibility for their behaviour without the judicial system coming over the top."

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Chris Bourke attributed a significant drop in indigenous youth incarceration rates to the success of restorative justice programs.

He said the Government planned to extend these programs to adult offenders in a bid to curb increasing rates of detention.

Inter-generational adversity to be considered in sentencing

It comes after it was revealed earlier this year that the percentage of indigenous adults in the Alexander Maconochie Centre had increased to more than 22 per cent.

"Extending restorative justice to adults will inevitably reduce indigenous incarceration rates," he said.

"The restorative justice process gives the opportunity for victims to be able to confront their perpetrator and ask those important questions of why?

"It's also tremendously confrontational for the perpetrator ... to have to hear from someone about the impact of your crime because then the shame is something that these people then become aware of.

"That is a powerful preventive factor in the future."

Questions were also raised about the potential for new sentencing arrangements that would allow judges and magistrates to take into account inter-generational adversity when sentencing an indigenous offender.

Ms Harris and other panellists noted that one of the key barriers to decreasing indigenous incarceration was members of the ACT and Australian judiciary understanding the continued impact of white colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Comparisons were drawn with Canadian courts where judges can order a 'Gladue Report' before sentencing indigenous offenders.

Such a report contains details about the offender's history including any forced removal, abuse or health issues.

Introducing Gladue reports was recommended by the Justice and Community Committee in the ACT Legislative Assembly last year and Minister Bourke said the Government was still considering the idea.