Report: ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

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ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM


Overview

Over the past thirty years, there have been numerous studies, reports and justice inquiries across the country, and a growing body of statistical information, that confirm that Aboriginal peoples experience disproportionately high rates of crime and victimization, are over-represented in the court and the correctional system, and further, feel a deep alienation from a justice systen that is to them foreign and inaccessible, and reflects both overt and systemic racism. And the costs, in both human and fiscal terms, are seen to be not only exhorbitant, but also spiralling.

Through persistent dialogue with various levels of government, Aboriginal communities across Canada have gradually begun to explore the possibility of administering various components of the criminal justice system. This has been a slow process, with the greatest strides achieved over the past two decades. Unfortunately, many problems still exist within the current relationship between Aboriginal offenders and the judicial system. Of principal concern is the disproportionate number of Aboriginal offenders in the justice system and the necessity to find methods to remedy this situation.

The rest of this can be read at: http://www.ccja-acjp.ca/en/abori4.html
Report is by the Canadian Criminal Justice Association