Introduction to the Context of Native American Criminal Justice Involvement

Examinations of the Native American experience in the US criminal justice system are still relatively sparse despite earlier calls for increased attention.

“Examinations of the Native American experience in the US criminal justice system are still relatively sparse, despite earlier calls for increased attention to Native American crime and justice issues.”

Native Americans' status as both tribal nationals and US citizens uniquely shapes their experiences of agency and power, as they are subjected to internal colonialism across multiple interlocking institutional spheres, including criminal justice.

“This intersection uniquely shapes their experiences of agency and power, as they are subjected to internal colonialism across multiple interlocking institutional spheres (Steinman 2012), including criminal justice (Nielsen 2009).”

Native Americans have higher imprisonment rates than any other group except African Americans.

“Victimization rates among Native Americans have traditionally been more than twice the national average, and Native Americans have higher imprisonment rates than any other group except African Americans (Nielsen 2009, US Dep. Justice 2004).”

Native American tribes and Alaskan Native communities are sovereign but colonized nations, and their experience with US criminal justice reflects this.

“Native American tribes and Alaskan Native communities are sovereign but colonized nations, and their experience with US criminal justice reflects this (Cardani 2009, Nielsen 2009).”

Victimization rates among Native Americans have traditionally been more than twice the national average.

“Victimization rates among Native Americans have traditionally been more than twice the national average, and Native Americans have higher imprisonment rates than any other group except African Americans (Nielsen 2009, US Dep. Justice 2004).”

The Native American criminal justice experience is inherently shaped by the history of US internal colonialism, which is not accounted for by racial/ethnic group threat explanations.

“Like Nielsen (2009), we view the Native American criminal justice experience as inherently shaped by the history of US internal colonialism, which is not accounted for by racial/ethnic group threat explanations.”