JUSTICE

Objectives:

The main objective of the Justice portfolio is to assist other departments in the development of justice programs that address the underlying issues that lead to high numbers of Aboriginal people coming into conflict with the law; reduce the number of Aboriginal offenders in correctional institutions; reintegrate offenders into their communities; ensure Aboriginal people are actively involved in the criminal justice system as police officers and community justice workers and generally promote safer communities.

In addition, the Justice portfolio aims to strengthen the linkages between the Department of Justice, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the RCMP, Correctional Service Canada, the provinces and territories, Aboriginal organizations and DIAND to support First Nations communities in developing appropriate adjudication mechanisms that will meet community needs and fit within the overall Canadian justice system. While DIAND does not have direct responsibility for justice issues, it plays an advisory role, participating in committees and working groups to develop strategies to address First Nations' justice-related needs.

Background:

The over-representation of Aboriginal people throughout the federal prison population is currently on the rise. The numbers reveal a critical situation:

• While Aboriginal adults represent 2.7% of the Canadian adult population, they accounted for 11% of admissions to federal penitentiaries in 1991-92 and 18% in 2002-03.
  
  
• 28.5% of all incarcerated women and 18.2% of all incarcerated men in Canada are Aboriginal
  
  
• The numbers reach critical levels in the Prairie region where Aboriginal people make up more than 60% of the inmate population in some penitentiaries. In 1998 Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan represented 11% of the total population but accounted for 61% of people in federal institutions, 74% of people in provincial jails and 72% of youth in custody.

The overall Aboriginal population is young and growing, with 35% being less than 15 years old. It is expected that the current Aboriginal baby boom could cause the number of Aboriginal offenders to rise still further over the next decade. People aged 18 to 25 are more likely to become involved in criminal activity than other age groups. Should the current trend continue unchecked, the Aboriginal population in Canada’s correctional institutions could reach the 25% mark in less than 10 years. The impact on Aboriginal communities and federal corrections will be extremely serious if left unaddressed.

Considerable progress has been made in working with First Nation communities on justice programming. Over 190 policing agreements have been developed with First Nations. Many communities have developed their own healing lodges, and some have taken on the responsibility of monitoring offenders at the time of release. In addition, other justice programs, ie. Youth Justice and the National Crime Prevention Council are developing new ways to work more closely with First Nations.

Eligibility:

Given that DIAND does not fund justice programs, all eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Justice and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness initiatives. Refer to Other Links for direct contact to the justice initiatives.

Key Initiatives:

DIAND's Justice portfolio is one component of the Social Policy & Programs branch, which includes Child & Family Services, Income Assistance, Family Violence Prevention, Assisted Living, the National Child Benefit Reinvestment program and other social services that address individual and family well-being.

In general, DIAND's Justice portfolio assists in the development of initiatives aimed at continuing the implementation of the Department of Justice’s Aboriginal Justice Strategy.

DIAND's Justice portfolio has also helped to develop crime reduction programs through the National Crime Prevention Council, expand the number of tripartite (federal, provincial, First Nation) policing agreements and train more Aboriginal police officers. Further, the Justice portfolio supports formal agreements to transfer offenders back to their communities, enhancing the role of Aboriginal communities in developing Elder-lead community corrections models, and developing healing lodges in various parts of the country designed by and for Aboriginal people.

Finally, the Justice portfolio oversees such Aboriginal justice issues as legal aid, sexual exploitation and human rights.

Contact Info:

For further information on Aboriginal Justice issues, contact us at DIAND Headquarters:

E-mail: InfoPubs@ainc-inac.gc.ca
Phone: (toll-free) 1-800-567-9604
TTY: (toll-free) 1-866-553-0554

Other Links:

• Department of Justice: For more information on the Aboriginal Justice Strategy, Youth Justice Strategy, National Crime Prevention Strategy, Canadian Firearms Centre, Policy Centre for Victim Issues contact the Department of Justice.
  
  
• Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness : For more information on the First Nation Policing Program, Aboriginal Community Corrections Initiative contact Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
  
  
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police: For more information on Aboriginal Policing contact the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
  
  
• Correctional Services Canada: For more information on Aboriginal Programs and Issues please contact Correctional Service Canada.

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