OTTAWA—Figures from the Justice Department paint a dark picture of the state of indigenous incarceration, with aboriginal youth seriously overrepresented in the criminal justice system. By Lucy Cormack. The crisis of Aboriginal over-incarceration in Canada is one of the most well-documented features of our Criminal Justice System. Aboriginal overrepresentation in the criminal justice system in NSW is a significant problem. A tenfold over-representation of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system shows Australia is failing vulnerable children, says Jesuit Social Services. In its review of the overrepresentation of young people in custody, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) (2015a, 2015b) suggested, “The youth justice system perhaps more than the adult criminal justice system, is failing Aboriginal families” (p. 177). It will utilize focus groups of 100 Aboriginal youth from that area to discuss in a group interview what they believe is causing this phenomena. 20 March 2010. _____ of Canadian population (22% increase since 1996) c. More than half are under _____ years d. Twice the birth rate of non-Aboriginals Median age is ____(Sask.-38.8 yrs. Indigenous adults represent 4.1% of the total Canadian adult population, but 26% of adults in federal custody. This article will provide a perspective that argues part of the problem is a consequence of the lack of court alternate … 23 June 2011. THE OVER-REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINAL JUVENILES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM by David Pheeney INTRODUCTION The factors responsible for the ever-increasing incarceration of Aboriginal juveniles in New South Wales (‘NSW’) are complex and varied. We believe that Aboriginal over-representation also arises because the current justice system, in many ways, is culturally inappropriate and discriminatory in its treatment of Aboriginal people. The present study examined sentencing decisions of open or closed custody and … It has long been established that Aboriginal people have much more contact with the criminal justice system than other groups. It presents a summary of literature that evaluates policy proposals to reduce these rates, including a discussion of how current attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can negatively influence how policy responses are framed. The over‐representation of young indigenous people intensifies at the most punitive end of the system: youth detention (Cunneen, 1997). Over-representation of visible minority youth in youth prisons is evident in most advanced industrial and liberal democratic countries. People are undoubtedly mistaken if they believe that systemic discrimination ends in the courtroom, because prisons are the homes to many Aboriginal people. There are many challenges that contribute to Aboriginal overrepresentation and there aren’t any simple solutions. Youth detention rates have been declining since 1994, with the indigenous rate down by 25 per cent and the non‐indigenous rate down by 44 per cent. While the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) has reduced Canada’s overall youth incarceration rate in recent years, the relative proportion of detained Aboriginal youth has actually increased. This crisis is especially profound in the youth context. The shortcomings of the Criminal Justice System towards Aboriginal people are most clearly illustrated in the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in Canadian penitentiaries. What has caused it and how can we fix it? General Demographics of Aboriginal Youth in Canada: 2001 a. Commissioner Gooda said the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and … 3.13 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately represented in Australian prison populations. A tenfold over-representation of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people in the criminal justice system shows that Australia is failing vulnerable children, and raising the age of criminal responsibility and culturally-specific responses should be among the solutions to address the issue, says Jesuit Social Services. Log in, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Aboriginal people represent 3.3% of the Canadian population, but make up 18% of total provincial and territorial sentenced admissions. Other actions include the new Koori Youth Justice Taskforce, being led by the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, which will identify opportunities to improve cultural responsiveness and reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal young people in the youth justice system, as well as the Maggolee Mang Program in Parkville and Malmsbury designed to support young Aboriginal … Indigenous over-representation - Jorgina. < million persons identified themselves as Aboriginal b. Criminal justice system 'inherently racist' towards Aboriginal people . Save. In 2016, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people constituted just 2% of the Australian adult population but comprised more than one quarter (27%) of the national adult prison population. Aboriginal youth are overrepresented in Ontario correctional facilities at a much higher rate than Aboriginal adults. ISBN 978-1-100-51281-5. Indigenous people are over-represented in Canada’s Criminal Justice System, both as victims and as offenders. The over-representation of Aboriginal people in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) is a considerable problem that has been present in Canada for many years and is extreme with Aboriginal youth populations. Indigenous Rights Assignment 2 Bel Russell According to the Council of Provincial and Child Advocates (2010), “For Aboriginal children and youth in Canada, … Over-representation of Maori in the criminal justice system Resources Comorbid substance use disorders and mental health disorders among New Zealand prisoners The Court found that over-representation was “only the tip of the iceberg insofar as the estrangement of the aboriginal peoples from the Canadian criminal justice system is concerned.” In R. v. Ipeelee in 2012, the Court restated its findings in Gladue. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda has welcomed the release of a report which highlights over-representation of young Indigenous people in the criminal justice system as one of the most neglected but urgent issues to be addressed in efforts to overcome Indigenous disadvantage. PLAY. 2.3 Understanding the history of incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as the relationship of incarceration with other governmental modes of regulation, enables an appreciation of the complexity of addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the contemporary criminal justice system. Ottawa, ON : Aboriginal Corrections Policy Unit, Public Safety Canada . CHAPTER 15 Aboriginal Youth and the Criminal Justice System. As we stated at the outset of this chapter, the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the province’s criminal justice system is not related solely to high Aboriginal crime rates. One theory of over-representation is the presence of systemic discrimination in judicial decision making. Aboriginal Over-representation in the Justice System Jackie Fitzgerald BOCSAR. ISBN 978-1-100-51281-5. In Canada, federal and provincial governments have initiated policy strategies to counteract the over-representation of Aboriginal offenders. A new parliamentary report tabled in Parliament, Doing Time-Time for Doing: Indigenous Youth in the criminal justice system has highlighted the over representation of young Indigenous people in the criminal justice system with statistics showing that Indigenous youth are 28 times more likely to be incarcerated than other youth in Australia. In recent years, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Queensland courts have sought to rely on a range of 'diversionary' practices such as youth justice conferencing and cautioning as a response to the alarmingly high rates of over- representation of Indigenous youth in Queensland's criminal justice system. Canada’s Aboriginal people, fetal alcohol syndrome & the criminal justice system. Running head: OVER-REPRESENTATION OF ABORIGINALS IN JUSTICE SYSTEM 2 Abstract This study will explore what Aboriginal youth from Metro Winnipeg believe are the factors contributing to their over-representation of in the criminal justice system. The incarceration rates for Aboriginal people are much higher than the rate for non-Aboriginal persons [45]. June 6, 2020 — 12.00am. It argues that one of the most important factors is a decline in interdependency among people in aboriginal communities. This paper1 attempts to explain the vulnerability of aboriginal people to involvement in the criminal justice system in Canada. This is true in both the adult and youth justice spheres. In the case of Canada’s Aboriginal youth, a history of systemic discrimination, addition, and the breakdown of the family unit have resulted in significant overrepresentation in the criminal justice system. Combatting Over-representation of Indigenous Youth in the Queensland Criminal Justice System through ‘Justice Reinvestment’ goals and which are evidenced based. Mick Gooda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Australian Human Rights Commission ANTaR NSW Seminar - Juvenile Justice Strategy: A Better Way, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts NSW. STUDY. 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