Seen But Not Heard: Native People in the Inner City

• NCJ Number: 158535
• Author(s): C La Prairie
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 542 pages
• Sale Source: Canada Department of Justice
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

This research study was initiated in response to the over- representation of aboriginal people as offenders in Canada's correctional institutions; the focus was on aborigines in inner- city areas of Edmonton, Regina, Toronto, and Montreal.

Abstract

A total of 621 interview schedules were completed, coded, and analyzed. The analysis involved separating the inner-city sample according to the following criteria: (1) those who were selected at the street level and lived in the inner city; (2) those who were selected through social and justice agencies and gave their addresses as inner-city; and (3) those who were selected through the inner-city sampling process but who resided in outer city areas. Most of those in the sample reported childhood abuse; for adults who suffered severe childhood trauma and chronic dislocation and instability, life was disproportionately characterized by alcohol problems, unemployment, victimization, involvement in the criminal justice system, and general instability. Most respondents believed they were treated fairly by police, courts, and the criminal justice system when accused, but there were important differences between cities and home communities/reserves. Findings suggested that aborigines in inner cities were more vulnerable than the general population to the commission of crime and criminal justice processing. Family disruption and involvement in the juvenile justice system predicted prolonged involvement in the adult criminal justice system. Recommendations to prevent the commission of crime by aborigines and to correct their over- representation in the criminal justice system are offered that focus on services for children and youth, treatment to reduce recidivism, and community development. Literature on family violence and victimization is reviewed, and the victimization experiences of adults and children in the inner-city sample are examined. Appendixes contain further information on the research study. References and tables