Improve services to Indigenous people and those with mental illness throughout the criminal justice system.

What success looks like

Improved services and increased support to make it easier for Indigenous peoples and those with mental illness to navigate the criminal justice system, and reverse the trend of Indigenous overrepresentation in the justice system.

Government's narrative on progress

The Government of Canada has made investments to help ensure that Indigenous peoples and those with mental illness have increased access to justice and to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system, both as victims and offenders. In addition to increasing access to legal aid, the government has also provided long-term and stable funding to the Indigenous Justice Program which provides funding for community-based programs that use culturally relevant restorative justice approaches, in appropriate circumstances, to help address the over-representation of Indigenous peoples as accused, victims and offenders. In addition, the government has made significant investments in the First Nation Policing Program to ensure the safety of First Nations and Inuit communities through culturally relevant policing and investments to ensure that police officers serving these communities work in safe facilities. It is also investing in the Indigenous Courtwork Program to ensure Indigenous people have the representation and services they need to navigate the criminal justice system. The government is also supporting community-based specialized services for Indigenous victims of crime and Family Information Liaison Units for families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. The government is working to further identify strategies that will build on these investments. The government has proposed *Criminal Code* reforms including to the bail system to require consideration of the circumstances of Indigenous accused and to promote release at the earliest opportunity and with only conditions that are reasonably necessary as well as reforms to the jury selection process to make it more inclusive and fair (Bill C-75). The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Commissioner has received a public mandate with direction to address the over-representation of Indigenous Peoples, including to re-examine CSC’s governance structure to better integrate Indigenous needs and perspectives, further ensure that Indigenous offenders have timely access to effective, culturally-appropriate interventions developed in collaboration with Indigenous partners, and continue to address the particular needs of Indigenous women within the corrections system. Budget 2018 proposed to further support the mental health needs of federal inmates, with a focus on women in federal correctional facilities. The government is also supporting greater emphasis on offender mental health information during the sentencing decision-making process (Bill C-375 currently before the Senate). On October 16, 2018, the Government of Canada introduced legislation (C-83) which proposes to strengthen the federal correctional system, aligning it with the latest evidence and best practices, by implementing a new correctional interventions model; strengthening health care governance; better supporting victims; and addressing the specific situation of Indigenous offenders.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.