Forensic Psychology - Week 7

Flashcards about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Experience contact with the criminal justice system at higher rates than non-Indigenous Australians.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB)

A holistic understanding extending beyond individual mental health; encompasses connections to culture, community and Country.

Intergenerational trauma

Ongoing impacts of colonization manifesting in the justice system through systemic disadvantage.

Lore v law

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own systems of governance law, and dispute resolution. Current system operates primarily through Western frameworks.

Social determinants of justice

Focus specifically on the social and economic factors that increase someone's likelihood of contact with the criminal justice system.

System-Level Issues

Failure to acknowledge and incorporate Indigenous law/lore; Discriminatory processes and practices embedded in system; Bias in decision-making at multiple levels.

Police Interactions

Documented patterns of over-policing; Experiences of violence; Racism and racial profiling; Inflexible decision-making; Punitive bail conditions

Judicial Process

Indigenous status significant predictor of imprisonment; Evidence of harsher sentencing practices; Impact of negative stereotypes on judicial decisions; Systemic barriers to fair treatment.

Colonial Foundations

Settler colonial strategies of elimination and replacement; Erasure of Indigenous sovereignty (terra nullius); Ongoing structures of control and exclusion

Justice System Perpetuation

Racial profiling and systemic bias; Over-policing and culturally inappropriate practices; Unaddressed findings from 1991 Royal Commission

Culturally-informed practice

It is essential for effective engagement and support because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have fundamentally different ways of understanding health, wellbeing, and justice compared to Western frameworks.

Western Framework

Individual-focused, symptom-based approach, separation of mental and physical health, focus on pathology and diagnosis

Aboriginal Framework

Holistic understanding through SEWB, connection to land, culture, and community, integrated approach to wellbeing, law and lore as interconnected concepts

Deficit Discourse

Frames individuals or groups in terms of deficiencies, failures, or lacks, shifting responsibility for systemic issues onto individuals, overlooking broader social and structural factors, reinforces negative stereotypes and undesired behaviours

Importance of Culture

Culture shapes identity, behaviours and interactions within the justice system. Understanding cultural practices is key to accurately interpreting actions.

Cultural lens

Address systemic barriers shaped by cultural disconnects, shapes how behaviour is interpreted and understood; what is considered 'deviant' or criminal; relationships with justice system and authority.

Core Ethical Requirements

Respect for rights, dignity and cultural identity, Culturally appropriate assessment and interpretation, Recognition of power dynamics in forensic settings

Failure to provide culturally appropriate assessment

Inappropriate assessment, intervention contribute to over-representation; Can have life-or-death consequences like preventable health issues, cultural practices are often misinterpreted.