Towards a cross-cultural theory of Aboriginal criminality

[Extract] Despite extensive research, no attempt has yet been made systematically to compare the experience of aboriginal people in the criminal justice systems of Canada and Australia with the aim of developing a more generalized cross-cultural theory. In search of a more adequate theoretical framework for explaining the apparently similar patterns of criminal justice outcomes found among aboriginal peoples, this essay explores a number of different approaches. The concern with developing a cross-cultural theory of aboriginal criminality is motivated by the notable similarities that can be observed in the way in which indigenous people have been caught up in the criminal justice systems of different countries that have undergone the progress of European colonization.