The Canadian Criminal Justice System Is Often Represented

The Canadian criminal justice system is often represented by the balanced scales of justice. These scales symbolize the need for the law to be viewed objectively in order to ensure a fair determination of innocence (Griffiths, 2011). Ideally, the criminal justice system should incorporate the values of the scales of justice to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate the law. However, despite justice being supposedly impartial, there is an overwhelming representation of Aboriginal people in all stages of the criminal justice process, from the charging of the individuals in court to their sentence in prison (Jordan, 2014). This is a clear indication that the criminal justice system is not adequately representing the needs of†¦show more content†¦The report also found that Aboriginal people are sentenced to longer terms, spend more time in maximum security or segregation, are less likely to be granted parole, and are more likely to have their parole revoked (CSC , 2013). Correctional Investigator Howard Sapers concluded that the numbers of Aboriginal offenders continues to grow each year and that there were â€Å"serious gaps between the law and practice† when it came to dealing with aboriginal inmates (Ljunggren, 2013, p.1). Statistics as drastic as the above can only lead to the conclusion that Aboriginal people receive unequal justice in comparison to the majority population. The Aboriginal Justice Strategy (AJS) group was created specifically in response to the disproportionate number of Aboriginal persons involved in the criminal justice system, both as offenders and victims (Bennet, 2012). In their evaluation of the justice system, they found that â€Å"there remains a need for culturally relevant alternatives to the mainstream justice system† that are able to address the needs of Aboriginal populations (Bennet, 2012, p.1). Therefore, the pursuit of justice for Aboriginal populations must be culture based to not only administer uniform justice going forward, but also to address past wrongs. Retributive Justice Retributive justice has long been the established form of addressing injustices in society. This method refers to controlsShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Residential Schools On Disadvantaged Backgrounds855 Words   |  4 PagesAboriginal people make up 4.4% of all Canadians, yet account for 22% of individuals in provincial and territorial prisons. (King Winterdyk, 2010, p. 56). I believe they are over-represented in the criminal justice system due to their disadvantaged backgrounds. This paper will discuss the effects of residential schools, as well as how inconsistent parenting contributes to this sad reality. When the Canadian government set up residential schools in the 1870’s, they took away a major component ofRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System [In Canada] Aims To â€Å"Deliver1780 Words   |  8 PagesThe Criminal Justice System [in Canada] aims to â€Å"deliver justice for all, by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the innocent† (Garside, 2008), however, this definition curated by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies is inherently vague and does not encompass numerous vital aspects associated with the criminal justice system. A key component in the institutional structure of the criminal justice system is the involvement and integration ofRead MoreWhy Minorities Are Being Treated As Criminals By Police And The Justice System Based On Ethnic Background1528 Words   |  7 Pagesof these visible minorities are also the largest incarcerated in Canadian Correctional Services: Aboriginals being 23% of incarcerated offenders and Black people being 9% (Griffiths Murdoch, 2014). The critical analysis of crime and criminal justice as social constructs uphold social, racial, political and economic inequalities. The injurious behaviours of the poor and racial minorities are more likely to be depicted as criminals rather than the actions of the rich and powerful. Using pluralistRead MoreA Court Hearing And Expectation Of Judgment Essay1273 Words   |  6 Pagesfight for justice which becomes a very critical entity. While it may seem easier with more online resources to get legal information, and it may save the defendant some money, self-litigating one’s own case in criminal court may cause damage and be a burden to the bench, the court, the justice system and even the defendant. At the end of a court hearing, it is the preceding judge or a jury that must make a conclusion which affects one side of the conflicting parties. Our justice system recognizesRead MoreRacism And The Criminal Jus tice System1739 Words   |  7 PagesWith so many news stories and incidents surrounding the topic of race and the police these days, it is not surprising for people to come to the conclusion that racism may exist within the criminal justice system. We will be taking a deeper look into the problem to find out what other possible determinants may play a role in deciding how an officer makes an arrest or stop and continue to analyze what is happening in those contexts. The issues surrounding the topic of race is like the two faces ofRead MoreThe Implications Of The Criminal Justice System Essay1683 Words   |  7 Pagesdeplorable individuals that have disturbed the public’s peace, a place where justice is served†¦ Or at least that is how it is portrayed. It is easy to forget that these individuals are also human, just like everyone else that might have made a mistake that led them to be in a particular situation. Some may be in this predicament due to their background, o thers may be due to some kind of illness. The criminal justice system is in no way perfect, which is why it has great difficulties in trying to findRead MoreThe Injustice Of Indigenous Offenders Essay1948 Words   |  8 PagesThe Injustice of Indigenous Offenders Throughout the history of Canada, we have acknowledged Indigenous cultures as being the first people of Canadian land. However, society has not treated them as equal members of society since the first explorers settled. The Euro-Canadian culture has impacted the Indigenous people negatively; as a result injustice between the two cultures has developed and inequality has widened as the two cultures interact more frequently. Lisa Monchalin (2016), author of theRead MoreCanada Should Focus More on Rehabilitation and Less on Retribution 3217 Words   |  13 Pages Society has long since operated on a system of reward and punishment. That is, when good deeds are done or a person behaves in a desired way they SP are rewarded, or conversely punished when behaviour does not meet the societal norms. Those who defy these norms and commit crime are often punished by organized governmental justice systems through the use of penitentiaries, where prisoners carry out their senten ces. The main goals of sentencing include deterrence, safety of the publicRead MoreThe Political Institution Of Policing And Aboriginal Peoples Essay3484 Words   |  14 PagesThe image of Canada as a nation can be represented by words like peaceful, stable, and multicultural. However, these notions do not illuminate the truth of Canadian-Aboriginal affairs. For centuries, the Canadian state has attempted to organize a political integration strategy of the First Nations within Canada through colonial legislative acts and political institutions. Thus, these acts force individuals within political institutions to promote colonial integration policies through relatively harshRead MoreChallenge The Justice System Essay1341 Words   |  6 PagesChallenge the Justice System Within organizations there are various factors that create challenges or barriers. Especially, within justice organizations, there are numerous barriers that challenge not only the system, but professionals in the field as well. Within Mà ©tis Calgary Family Services, the dynamic is strictly Aboriginal. According to Aboriginal Statistics at a Glance 2nd Edition (2015), he Aboriginal population represents 4.3 percent of Canada’s total population. Within the scope of this