NCJ Number
141114
Date Published
1989
Length
76 pages
Annotation
The Canadian Department of Justice undertook a preliminary study concerning sentencing patterns and sentencing options related to aboriginal populations in Canada.
Abstract
The need for the study was based on a recent general concern about natives in the criminal justice system as well as more specific statements on sentencing disparities. The first section of this paper discusses native sentencing disparities in general and theoretical terms, presents a model based on decision points, and reviews the Canadian literature and data sources on the subject. The second section discusses sentencing options, focusing both on universal programs that are, in theory, accessible to all citizens and community- initiated programs that are operated within the context of a particular native community. Factors including structure, funding, rationale, objectives, and impacts are examined in light of representative programs operating in several provinces. Areas for future research are noted. 1 figure