Aboriginal Initiatives Directorate

Aboriginal offenders - overview

There is a current and increasing over-representation of Aboriginal offenders.

Introduction:

• Aboriginal peoples represent 2.8% of the Canadian population, but account for 18% of the federally incarcerated population.
• Aboriginal-specific and culturally appropriate programs and services are required to address the needs of Aboriginal offenders.

Overview:

• The Solicitor General released the Federal Task Force Report on Aboriginal Peoples in Federal Corrections in 1989.
• The Corrections and Conditional Release Act provided for Aboriginal-specific provisions 79-84 in 1995.
• These developments provided structure to the development of a specific policy on Aboriginal programming in CSC.
• A National Strategy on Aboriginal Corrections was developed by CSC in 1997 to provide some concentrated focus on Aboriginal programs, Aboriginal community developments, Aboriginal Employment/Recruitment and Partnerships on Aboriginal issues.
• CSC has the following Aboriginal-specific programs, services and initiatives targeted towards the safe and successful reintegration of Aboriginal offenders:

  -	Aboriginal Treatment and Healing Programs
  -	Aboriginal-specific health strategies in HIV/AIDS, FAS/E and traditional healing
  -	Research projects on Aboriginal Reintegration
  -	Aboriginal Healing Lodges (currently 8 across Canada)
  -	Halfway Houses for Aboriginal offenders (currently 24 across Canada)
  -	Agreements with Aboriginal Communities to offer services to Aboriginal offenders
  -	A National Aboriginal Employment/Recruitment Strategy
  -	Elders working in institutions and in the community
  -	Aboriginal Liaison Services in federal institutions
  -	Support to Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood Groups
  -	Aboriginal Offender Employment and Job Placement
  -	An Aboriginal Gangs Reintegration Project

Future:

CSC is currently developing a new National Strategy that will further expand and focus its efforts to ensuring an Aboriginal-specific correctional process is in place throughout an Aboriginal offender's sentence.