Consultation questions
Throughout the engagement consultations, there was a varying degree of passion from community members towards certain questions and topics. Additionally, there were specific communities for which some questions were not applicable. Consequently, not all questions and or areas of focus provided by Justice Canada were addressed during the consultations.
The consultation questions align with the Pillars of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy.
- The social determinants of justice (the factors that cause people to become involved in the criminal justice system)
- Policing
- Courts
- Corrections
- Parole, re-entry and reintegration
The following are the questions that were asked during the community engagement sessions.
Social determinants of justice:
- The criminal justice system in Canada is shaped by multiple factors that impact individuals’ lives. While there are successful African Canadians, as a group, African Canadians face disadvantages in income, health, and education compared to other Canadians. Previous studies have identified social factors that contribute to increased interactions between Black individuals and the justice system. What led to your or your loved one’s involvement with law enforcement and/or the courts?
- What recommendations would you suggest to reducing the involvement of Black people in the justice system?
Policing:
- What are the biggest issues faced by African Canadians when interacting with police?
- What recommendations would you provide to improve policing interactions between African Canadians?
Courts:
- What specific worries do you have regarding the presence of anti-Black racism during plea bargaining or in the sentencing decisions made by judges?
- What are your recommendations to make things equitable for African Canadians interacting with the courts?
Corrections:
- Research indicates that Black inmates are more likely to experience unfavorable treatment and be categorized as higher risk individuals when incarcerated. What suggestions might you provide to improve these conditions?
- What structural or institutional changes might correctional facilities need to make to improve the circumstances for Black inmates?
Parole, re-entry and reintegration
- What can be done to enhance the reintegration process for African Canadians post incarceration?
Victims of crime:
- What measures could be taken to enhance the support provided to individuals who are victims to crime?
Immigration:
The following are some recommendations regarding Black people facing possible removal from Canada for being non-citizens convicted of offences:
- Relax the requirement that individuals waiting for an immigration situation to be resolved not work or go to school.
- Allow greater appeal procedures for those who receive removal orders based on criminal convictions.
- Reduce the number of offences and the circumstances that can lead to a non-citizen being removed from Canada for a criminal conviction.
What additional recommendations do you think will be helpful for Black Canadians convicted of an offense and facing possible removal from Canada?
Data collection:
There are many areas of the criminal justice system where data specifically relating to Black people is not routinely collected.
- Talk to us about the importance of capturing race-based data, do you have any concerns with its use and or interpretation? why or why not?
Conclusion:
Is there anything else you would like to share with us that you feel would help us to make recommendations to improve the experiences of Black people in Canada’s criminal justice system?
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