The judge appointed to lead an inquiry into incarceration rates of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders says the jailing of people over unpaid fines is one area of high concern to him.

Judge Matthew Myers was appointed to law the Australian Law Reform Commission’s inquiry earlier this month.

Final terms of reference for the inquiry have also been released, with an expected final reporting date of 22 December this year.

Judge Myers says jailing over unpaid fines, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, will be one of the areas focused on in the inquiry.