Opinion Essay:
Over-representation of Aboriginals as Offenders
Amy Brown
ID #201591413
Diversity and the Justice System – CRJS 1013-001
Professor Aulakh Harpreet
Tuesday, February 3. 2015
In 2006, Statistics Canada found that 21% of people sentenced to custody and 18.5% in federal institutions were in fact of aboriginal descent (King & Winterdyk, 2010, p. 63). In a graph presented in the text by King and Winterdyk (2010), from Statistics Canada, the graph suggests the highest percent of over-representation of aboriginals were found in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon (p. 64). This information given provides a hard truth in our country, and I believe it exists for several reasons. The reasons being that First Nations are being over-represented in the justice system is due to alcoholism, violence, and residential schools. After examining reasons why this unfortunate reality exists, there will be a discussion to figure out how we can solve this problem as a society.
Alcoholism and Violence There is a typical stereotype associated with aboriginals, they are generally perceived as alcoholics. I can form this opinion because it is a common issue associated with aboriginals, but not all. In Chansonneuve’s paper (2007), a health Canada report from 2003 found that alcohol abuse was a problem for 73% of aboriginals (p. 25). There are explanations regarding why alcoholism is a problem for aboriginals, a large part associated with that, is their past. Aboriginals struggled
Over-representation of Aboriginals as Offenders
Amy Brown
ID #201591413
Diversity and the Justice System – CRJS 1013-001
Professor Aulakh Harpreet
Tuesday, February 3. 2015
In 2006, Statistics Canada found that 21% of people sentenced to custody and 18.5% in federal institutions were in fact of aboriginal descent (King & Winterdyk, 2010, p. 63). In a graph presented in the text by King and Winterdyk (2010), from Statistics Canada, the graph suggests the highest percent of over-representation of aboriginals were found in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon (p. 64). This information given provides a hard truth in our country, and I believe it exists for several reasons. The reasons being that First Nations are being over-represented in the justice system is due to alcoholism, violence, and residential schools. After examining reasons why this unfortunate reality exists, there will be a discussion to figure out how we can solve this problem as a society.
Alcoholism and Violence There is a typical stereotype associated with aboriginals, they are generally perceived as alcoholics. I can form this opinion because it is a common issue associated with aboriginals, but not all. In Chansonneuve’s paper (2007), a health Canada report from 2003 found that alcohol abuse was a problem for 73% of aboriginals (p. 25). There are explanations regarding why alcoholism is a problem for aboriginals, a large part associated with that, is their past. Aboriginals struggled