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The cultural defense considers that a defendant, born of a

particular culture, "will feel compelled to follow the rules of this

culture.... [E]vidence of cultural values can be introduced in order to

demonstrate how a particular culture recognizes that, in certain

situations, the actions of the victim are sufficient provocation to

justify the criminal act." For those individuals caught between the

divergent ideas of two or more cultures and/or legal systems, the

cultural defense seems to act as a concession:


   What is correct or even required by a folk law may be deemed a

   criminal act by the official legislation in force in the area. This

   could be the case in what was once colonial Africa or among the

   minority residents in urban London or New York City. Such

   instances serve as constant reminders of the continuing importance

   of folk law in the modem world.'


In effect, the cultural defense allows the defendant to interpose his or

her culture's norms as "an independent, substantive defense in

criminal trials."  This allows "a robust recognition of culture's role

in individual life, as well as a concession to the sociological fact of

multiculturalism."