Harry Blagg

Crime, Aboriginality and the Decolonisation of Justice Harry Blagg

"Crime, Aboriginality and the Decolonisation of Justice" explores contemporary strategies which might diminish the extraordinary levels of imprisonment and victimisation suffered by Aboriginal people in Australia. The book argues that enhancing Aboriginal ownership and control over justice and justice-related processes is a key factor and focuses on ways this can be achieved. In doing so the author: explores the potential for 'hybrid' initiatives in the complex 'liminal' space between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal domains, for example Aboriginal community/night patrols, community justice groups, healing centres and Aboriginal courts; disputes the relevance of the western, urban, criminological paradigm to the Aboriginal domain, and questions the application of both contemporary innovations such as restorative justice and mainstream models of policing; and, refutes allegations that Aboriginal customary laws condone violence against women and children, pointing to the wealth of research to the contrary, and suggests these laws contain considerable potential for renewal and healing.