Evaluation of the Indigenous Courtwork Program
Appendix B: In-Court and Out-of-Court Services
Out-of-Court Services
Services Included:
- Client intakes (interviews, assessments, documentation, circumstances of clients)
- Assisting clients in receiving care
- Preparing cases, including documentation, statistics, court briefs, research and reports
- Providing information on nature of charge, rights, court procedures, roles and responsibilities, alternative/restorative justice options, and sentence
- Assisting in accessing and interpreting documented information and forms for clients
- Assist in coordinating and preparing applications for bail for clients
- Providing information to "clients’ sureties"
- Facilitating linkages with translation/interpreter services
- Providing general information and/or assistance to Indigenous persons without a charge -where no conflict of interest exists (witness, victims, family members, others)
- Following-up with criminal justice personnel regarding outcome of case
- Following-up with client or service agencies regarding services provided (time permitting)
- Assisting in the dialogue between the client, court officials, judiciary and others
- Providing non-therapeutic counseling and emotional support
- Participating or leading Justice inter-agency and community-based committees
- Identifying gaps, needs, successes and learning in Indigenous justice initiatives
- Establishing networks and partnerships with community and Justice system organizations to improve client outcomes
- Supporting community development initiatives (justice, social, health, other)
- Conducting or contributing to research on systemic issues impacting Indigenous people in court
- Participating in national, provincial and community dialogues on Indigenous Justice policies and issues affecting Indigenous people before the Court
- Advocating for enhanced legislation, policies, services and processes for Indigenous people before the Court
- Providing training for Indigenous Courtworkers
- Providing presentations, workshops and training to other people involved in criminal justice system and alternative justice processes facilitating public legal education activities, including student placement and career days
- Providing public education and public legal education facilitating activities, make community and public presentations explaining goals of the Program
- Promoting understanding, within the Indigenous community, of the existing criminal justice system and alternative justice processes
- Facilitating use of (and in some jurisdictions) participating in alternative/restorative/Indigenous justice, alternative dispute resolution processes
- Program administration activities
In-Court Services
Services Included:
Assisting clients to appear before the court by:
- Attending court (adult, youth, bench warrants, sentencing)
- Providing in-court support to clients and court officials
- Providing information about relevant legal procedure to clients
- Providing information to the criminal justice system
- Acting as a “friend of the court” to provide information to the court on community resources available and sentencing options
- Providing information to clients on disposition or directions given by the court
- Providing cultural interpretation
- Providing language interpretation
- Assisting in the dialogue with Crown counsel on behalf of unrepresented clients
- Speaking to adjournment/remand (and in some jurisdictions) sentence applications, reviews and bail applications as instructed by the client or the courts
- Making appropriate referrals to legal and community resources to clients with and without charges seeking services (clients, witness, victims, family of accused client, others), where appropriate
- Assisting clients in accessing resources and support available
- Explaining what resources and support are available to clients and who to contact
- Providing information regarding diversions/alternative measures
- Liaising between client and criminal justice official
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