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Aborigines in Crime Statistics an Interaction between Poverty and Detectors

Aborigines in Crime Statistics an Interaction between Poverty and Detectors AUST & NZ JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY (June 1978) 11{71-80) 71 ABORIGINES IN CRIME STATISTICS AN INTERACTION BETWEEN POVERTY AND DETECTORS R Sanson-Fisher" The over representation of Aboriginals, and to a lesser extent low socio-economic whites in criminal statistics has received wide publicity and has been the subject of a number of studies (Eggleston 1971, Sanson-Fisher 1975). In a recent survey of juvenile institutions in Western Australia (Sanson-Fisher et al 1976) it was found that Aboriginals were 38.9~ of the sample although they represent approximately 2~ of the total population in that State. This paper attempts to examine some of the possible reasons for this massive over representation of the Aboriginal group in official crime statistics and in doing so introduces the concept of the behavioural matrix, a derivative of the labelling theory of detection. Detection Process There are two major approaches to delinquency detection present in the literature (Marshall & Purdy 1971). The first is the impartial model which assumes a one-to-one relationship between a deviant act (offending) and detection. This model assumes that the offender is only represented in official statistics because he engaged in behaviour defined as deviant by the legal code. Given this approach the purpose http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology SAGE

Aborigines in Crime Statistics an Interaction between Poverty and Detectors

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References (16)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
Copyright © by SAGE Publications
ISSN
0004-8658
eISSN
1837-9273
DOI
10.1177/000486587801100202
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AUST & NZ JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY (June 1978) 11{71-80) 71 ABORIGINES IN CRIME STATISTICS AN INTERACTION BETWEEN POVERTY AND DETECTORS R Sanson-Fisher" The over representation of Aboriginals, and to a lesser extent low socio-economic whites in criminal statistics has received wide publicity and has been the subject of a number of studies (Eggleston 1971, Sanson-Fisher 1975). In a recent survey of juvenile institutions in Western Australia (Sanson-Fisher et al 1976) it was found that Aboriginals were 38.9~ of the sample although they represent approximately 2~ of the total population in that State. This paper attempts to examine some of the possible reasons for this massive over representation of the Aboriginal group in official crime statistics and in doing so introduces the concept of the behavioural matrix, a derivative of the labelling theory of detection. Detection Process There are two major approaches to delinquency detection present in the literature (Marshall & Purdy 1971). The first is the impartial model which assumes a one-to-one relationship between a deviant act (offending) and detection. This model assumes that the offender is only represented in official statistics because he engaged in behaviour defined as deviant by the legal code. Given this approach the purpose

Journal

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology – SAGE

Published: Jun 1, 1978

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