Grants and Contributions

This multi-year project focuses on educating justice professionals and stakeholders on the importance of the Gladue decision and the unique considerations involved when sentencing Indigenous offenders. It will include hosting a series of Reconciliation Circles with partners. In particular, Saskatoon Tribal Council will engage partners working in courts in Saskatchewan, specifically in the City of Saskatoon and the five circuit court points that cover the seven STC Nations.

The objective of the Indigenous Courtwork Program is to facilitate and enhance access to justice by assisting Indigenous Persons (adults and youth) charged with an offence under any federal or provincial statute, municipal by-law, or otherwise involved in the criminal justice system to obtain fair, just, equitable and culturally relevant treatment. These services include information on charges, court procedures, rights and responsibilities, bail, diversion, restorative justice and Indigenous community justice alternatives; support in accessing legal resources as well as appropriate community programming including wellness, trauma, housing, family and employment services; and, facilitating communication among court officials, accused persons, family members and communities to ensure understanding and collaboration.

This project will establish a prison law pilot project utilizing the services of a full-time Prison Law Support Worker to provide support and legal information to racialized federal and provincial inmates incarcerated within Nova Scotia. Additionally, workshops will be offered to justice professionals on prison law issues and procedures.

The Implementation of Case Management System Project will consist of hiring program developers to develop a secure, organized, and structured digital case management system. The case management system allows for easy input and access of information by Courtworkers to review client and court information, improve year-end reporting, and it increases client confidentiality. The system will be beneficial to all MCPEI employees and contracted Gladue writers on an as-needed basis. Training will be provided once the case management system has been developed.

The project will support the Métis Justice Institute of the Manitoba Métis Federation to develop and implement a Community Justice Centre based on the Justice Navigation Model. It will provide Red River Métis citizens with a wrap-around, interdisciplinary support system, allowing citizens to receive legal information, assistance navigating different aspects and processes within the justice system, information on next steps, referrals to services and comprehensive outreach.

The Gladue Training Project will provide up -to-date Gladue training for four new staff members. This training will qualify the trainees to complete full Gladue reports for the pilot project.

The SCO Gladue Pilot Project will build on the SCO Gladue Report Framework Development Project report, which assesses and demonstrates the needs for and implications of an SCO Gladue writing program. The project will include 1 full-time Gladue Pilot Project Manager and 3 full-time Gladue Writers; the manager will provide guidance and supervision to the writers and will produce reports when possible and needed. The project will cover the West, Interlake, East, and South regions within SCO territories.

The recipient agrees to contribute to addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system through prevention, diversion and reintegration activities.

This grant will support costs associated with the Indigenous Justice Strategy Engagement Session in November 2023

The Recipient agrees to contribute to addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system through activities such as Gladue aftercare, prevention, diversion and/or reintegration.