Addressing Over-Representation in the Criminal Justice System and Mistreatment in Prisons.
The SPP is dedicated to improving knowledge about the factors that contribute to the over-representation of racialized people in the criminal justice system and mistreatment in prisons. By preparing enhanced pre-sentence reports, the SPP aspires to improve the public’s perception of the administration of justice and enhance the system’s legitimacy for Black, Indigenous and racialized communities.
In 2013, the Office released “A Case Study of Diversity in Corrections: The Black Inmate Experience in Federal Penitentiaries.” At that time, the Office reported that Black inmates comprised 9.5% of the inmate population while representing just 3% of the Canadian population. The report also noted that Black inmates were over-represented in maximum security and segregation, incurred a disproportionate number of institutional charges, and were more likely to be involved in incidents of use of force. Although CSC’s response to the Office’s report was positive overall, four years later very little appears to have changed for Black people in federal custody.
— Office of Correctional Investigator, Annual Report (2016-2017)