Aboriginal Courtwork Program Evaluation
Appendix E: Aboriginal Courtworker Survey
Aboriginal Courtworker Survey
The Department of Justice Canada Evaluation Division is conducting a national online survey of Courtworkers to obtain feedback on your Involvement with the Aboriginal Courtwork Program. The results from this survey will provide important information that will be used to support the national evaluation of the Aboriginal Courtwork Program.
Your response is very important to us and we want to hear from you. The information that is collected from you in the survey will be held in strict confidence and remain anonymous. This means that the information you provide will be analyzed in a way so that your responses cannot be identified as coming from you. There are 26 questions in this survey and it should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. The survey is easy to answer and most questions require you to click on the appropriate responses. We would appreciate receiving your completed questionnaire by Friday, May 18, 2012. In the meantime, if you have questions about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Susan Chan, Evaluation Division, at 613-957-9637. For technical questions, please contact Jo-Anne Chrétien at 613-957-9610.
A. Demographics
1. Where do you work?
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
2. Do you work in: (check all that apply)
- Urban area (city)
- Rural area (small township)
- Geographically isolated area
3. In what type of court(s) do you provide services?
- Circuit court
- Base court (fixed court building)
- Both (Circuit and Base courts)
4. Please identify your employment status:
- Full-time Courtworker
- Part-time Courtworker
4a. Do you work in a shared position? (for example, Community Justice Worker, Restorative Worker, other)
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
4b. Please list the other types of services you provide.
5. What is your gender?
- Male
- Female
6. How long have you worked as an Aboriginal Courtworker?
- less than 6 months
- over 6 months and under 1 year
- over 1 year but under 3 years
- over 3 years but under 5 years
- over 5 years but under 10 years
- over 10 years
B. Demand for Courtworker Services
1. Based on your experience and on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being no need at all, 3 somewhat of a need and 5 major need, please indicate to what extent there is a continued need for Aboriginal Courtworker services.
- 1. No need at all
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat of a need
- 4.
- 5. Major need
1a. Please explain.
2. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being "not at all accessible", 3 somewhat accessible and 5 "very accessible", please indicate to what extent the existing Courtworker services in the community/region you serve are accessible to your clients.
- 1. Not at all accessible
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat accessible
- 4.
- 5. Very accessible
3. In the community/region where you work, are there any gaps in Courtworker services for the following groups of clients?
Adult males
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
Adult females
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
Male youth (less than 18 years)
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
Female youth (less than 18 years)
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
4. Please list the types of additional Courtworker services needed.
Adult males
Adult females
Male youth (less than 18 years)
Female youth (less than 18 years)
5. Is there a need for additional Courtworker services with respect to the following categories?
Family justice matters
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
Gladue information
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
Public Legal Education and Information
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
6. Please list the types of additional Courtworker services needed.
Family justice matters
Gladue information
Public Legal Education and Information
7. Over the past 12 months, what was the approximate percentage of your clients in each of the following categories? (Total percentage should amount to 100%)
- Adult males
- Adult females
- Male youth (less than 18 years)
- Female youth (less than 18 years)
C. Services Provided by Courtworkers
1a. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being rarely, 3 sometimes and 5 very often, please indicate how often you usually provide the services listed below to male clients.
MALES
a) Interviewing clients
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
b) Providing information on charges, rights, court procedures, roles and responsibilities, alternative/restorative justice options, and sentencing to clients
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
c) Explaining documented information and forms
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
d) Providing emotional support and non-therapeutic counselling
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
e) Assisting clients to appear before the court
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
f) Referring clients to legal services
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
g) Referring clients to alcohol and drug addiction treatment or mental health services
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
h) Referring clients to educational or employment resources
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
i) Referring clients to other community support services (e.g., housing, child care, social assistance) for males
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
j) Facilitating access and participation of clients in alternative/restorative justice services
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
k) Providing general information and/or assistance to Aboriginal victims of crime
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
1b. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being rarely, 3 sometimes and 5 very often, please indicate how often you usually provide the services listed below to female clients.
FEMALES
a) Interviewing clients
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
b) Providing information on charges, rights, court procedures, roles and responsibilities, alternative/restorative justice options, and sentencing to clients
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
c) Explaining documented information and forms
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
d) Providing emotional support and non-therapeutic counselling
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
e) Assisting clients to appear before the court
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
f) Referring clients to legal services
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
g) Referring clients to alcohol and drug addiction treatment or mental health services
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
h) Referring clients to educational or employment resources
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
i) Referring clients to other community support services (e.g., housing, child care, social assistance) for males
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
j) Facilitating access and participation of clients in alternative/restorative justice services
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
k) Providing general information and/or assistance to Aboriginal victims of crime
- 1. Rarely
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
2. Has your role changed since you began working as a Courtworker?
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
3. In what way(s) has your role changed when working with the following?
- Clients:
- Courts:
- Community:
4. Do you provide services through videoconferencing?
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
5. Please indicate, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being no changes at all, 3, some changes and 5 many changes, to what extent videoconferencing or other technology has changed the way you provide services to your clients, to the court(s) where you work, and to the community/region you serve.
Clients
- 1. No change at all
- 2.
- 3. Some changes
- 4.
- 5. Many changes
Court(s)
- 1. No change at all
- 2.
- 3. Some changes
- 4.
- 5. Many changes
Community/Region
- 1. No change at all
- 2.
- 3. Some changes
- 4.
- 5. Many changes
6. What changes has technology made to the way you provide services?
D. Impacts of Courtworker Services
1. Aboriginal Courtworker services are designed to achieve a number of outcomes for clients. Please indicate, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being not successful, 3 somewhat successful and 5 very successful, to what extent, based on your experience, the services are achieving the outcomes listed below.
Clients
a) Courtworker clients charged with an offence receive information about their circumstances prior to appearing before the court.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
b) Courtworker clients receive referrals to legal resources as well as social, education, employment, health, Aboriginal community and other resources, if required.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
c) Courtworker clients are able to understand the nature of the charges against them.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
d) Courtworker clients are able to understand their right to speak on their own behalf or to request legal counsel.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
e) Courtworker services increase awareness of the functioning of the criminal justice system.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
f) Courtworker clients are able to make informed decisions about pursuing alternative options (e.g., diversion programs, elder panels, sentencing circles, and Aboriginal youth committees).
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
g) Courtworker services contribute to helping clients receive fair and equitable treatment before the court.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
2. Aboriginal Courtworker services also have an impact on the work of the court officials and the court. Please indicate, based on your experience and on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being not successful, 3 somewhat successful and 5 very successful, to what extent the services are achieving the outcomes listed below.
Court Officials
a) Court officials are provided with information concerning the circumstances of the client (e.g., bail, sentencing).
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
- Not applicable
b) Court officials are provided with information on the availability of local legal and social resources.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
- Not applicable
c) Court officials are provided with information on the availability of alternative/restorative justice programs and services in the community.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
- Not applicable
d) Court officials are provided with information on the values, customs, languages and socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal people where relevant to the decision-making process.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
- Not applicable
e) Improved communication between coutworkers, clients and those involved in the administration of the criminal justice system.
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
- Not applicable
f) Courts are able to deal with matters more quickly (e.g., eliminating unnecessary adjournments, trials and reserving of pleas).
- 1. Not successful
- 2.
- 3. Somewhat successful
- 4.
- 5. Very Successful
- Not applicable
3. In your opinion, are the Aboriginal Courtworker services meeting the justice-related needs of your clients, the court(s) where you work, and the community/region you serve?
Clients
- Yes
- No
Court(s)
- Yes
- No
Community/Region
- Yes
- No
3a. Please explain.
4. Have you noticed any unintended impacts or changes (either positive or negative) from Courtworker services on your clients, on the court(s) where you work, and on the community/region you serve?
Clients
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
Court(s)
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
Community/Region
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
4a. Please explain what the impacts are on each.
Clients
Court(s)
Community/Region
5. If you could make changes to improve Aboriginal Courtworker services, what changes would you make?
E. Relationship to Other Initiatives
1. In the communities/regions where you provide Courtworker services, are there any other programs and services designed to meet the needs of your Aboriginal clients?
- Yes (please list those programs and services):
- No
- Don't know
2. Do you refer your clients to those programs and services?
- Yes
- No
3. Please indicate, on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being never, 3 sometimes and 5 very often, how often you are in contact with those programs and services on any given month.
- 1. Never
- 2.
- 3. Sometimes
- 4.
- 5. Very often
F. Job Satisfaction
1. What made you decide to become a Courtworker?
2. What aspects of the job do you find the most satisfying and why?
2a. What aspects of the job do you find the least satisfying and why?
3. Given the demands of your current job responsibilities, do you feel you are compensated fairly in terms of salary and benefits?
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
G. Training
1. Given the range of services that Courtworkers are expected to provide, have you received adequate training?
- Yes (please explain)
- No (please explain)
- Don't know
2. What types of training would enhance your knowledge and skills as a Courtworker?
3. Do you have any additional comments you would like to add about your role as a Courtworker and/or about the Aboriginal Courtwork Program?
Thank You for Your Participation
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