Culturally relevant assessment of indigenous Offenders: a literature review

This paper is the first in a two-part series reviewing the current state of Indigenous programming in correctional settings. The focus is Australian, with a local Victorian emphasis, but literature from Indigenous sources in other countries such as New Zealand and Canada has also been included where relevant. This first paper is assessment focused. It begins by describing contextual factors that are relevant to Indigenous offender service provision, such as ethnocentrism and the ongoing consequences of colonisation. Several principles to improve program responsiveness to these influences are offered. A range of overlapping risk factors and needs for Indigenous offenders is then reviewed, underpinned by Ward and Stewart's (in press) model of human flourishing. These factors form the basis for culturally-relevant assessment of Indigenous offenders. The paper concludes with implications for intervention, or cultural healing. This sets the context for a second paper, which elaborates on promising culturally relevant interventions in correctional settings.