Recommendations
The following are the recommendations provided by participants in the engagement sessions to address issues and concerns raised in this report. The recommendations are aligned to the same framework provided by the Department of Justice Canada. [Note: one finding may apply to multiple themes].
(1) Social determinants of justice
- Address systemic racism across various sectors, including mental health services, education, and employment opportunities to reduce the existing socioeconomic gaps.
- Increase awareness and understanding of Black community culture within the criminal justice system, including training programs to mitigate the influence of implicit racial bias at every phase of the criminal justice system: police officers, Legal Aid, prosecutors, judges, and parole boards.
- Develop targeted programs addressing educational and economic disparities within Black communities to discourage the preponderance towards crime.
(2) Policing
- Provide Black-led anti-bias training for law enforcement officers to mitigate racial profiling and discriminatory practices.
- Establish a mechanism for reporting discriminatory actions by law enforcement and advocate for equal treatment (such as, mandatory inclusion of Black representatives of both federal and provincial police review commissions)–the team of umpires must reflect the demographic composition of the larger population.
- Encourage community support and advocacy to create a rallying point for Black people.
(3) Courts and legislation
- Implement transparent and verifiable equal employment initiatives within the legal and justice sector.
- Promote and encourage cultural humility and competency training in the judicial system.
- Conduct a comprehensive review of existing laws and policies to identify and amend discriminatory practices.
(4) Corrections
- Implement initiatives to address youth redundancy and peer pressures leading to gang involvement.
- Develop mechanisms for fair sentencing and parole based on a comprehensive understanding of social determinants, including the mandatory use of cultural impact assessment for Black offenders.
- Support community agencies serving Black people for successful offender reintegration.
- Expand rehabilitation and reintegration programs tailored to the specific needs of the Black population.
(5) Reintegration and re-entry
- Develop specialized reintegration programs addressing mental health challenges within the Black community.
- Establish support systems to aid re-entry and reintegration for deported individuals.
- Prioritize lived experiences and cultural advisors to guide training and support for Black people in correctional contexts.
- Develop comprehensive reintegration support programs, addressing mental health, employment, and housing needs.
- Establish partnerships with community organizations to provide ongoing support and mentorship to reintegrating individuals.
(6) Additional findings on related issues
- Create culturally sensitive support services that provide holistic assistance to Black victims and survivors of crime.
- Through community partners, create awareness about available support services within the Black community.
- Advocate for fair immigration policies that consider the unique circumstances of Black non-citizens.
- Provide legal assistance and guidance to non-citizens facing potential deportation due to criminal convictions.
- Standardize data collection methods across the justice system to accurately and comprehensively capture information related to the Black community.
- Make data accessible to researchers, policymakers, and the public to inform evidence-based analysis, decisions and interventions.
- Actively engage the Black community in policymaking, discussions, and decisions related to the criminal justice system.
- Increase representation of Black professionals in the criminal justice system.
- Incorporate education on the criminal justice system into academic curricula and community programs to inform Black people of their rights and responsibilities.
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