2020- 2022 Policy Process | Green Party of Canada

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G21-P040 Implementing a National Decarceration Strategy

Official proposal

05/06/2021 12:27

Submitter Name

Chance Davies

Ratification Vote Results: Adopted

Proposal

Implement a National Decarceration Strategy alongside intergovernmental partners to reduce incarceration rates by transitioning most criminal offenders out of prisons using community-based restorative justice programs. Create a sustainable and effective funding model to move prison expenditures towards community-based restorative justice programs, with those programs acting as a standard going forward.

Objective

To implement a policy proposal aimed at ending Canadian mass incarceration by adopting a national decarceration strategy supplemented by the implementation of community-based restorative justice programs to eliminate the unjust and ineffective practice of prison sentencing.

Benefit

Beyond ending mandatory minimum sentencing, GPC policy has an opportunity to better address the issue of mass incarceration. Often prison sentencing is inequitable and ineffective. Adopting a national decarceration strategy and moving towards greater emphasis of community-based restorative justice programs works towards ensuring our judicial system reflects genuine concern for social justice.

Supporting Comments from Submitter

1. This piece of evidence demonstrates that Canadian prison conditions are failing to meet basic human rights standards, with a particular focus on issues pertaining to prisoner’s health when compared to the general population. https://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/annrpt/annrpt20152016-eng.pdf

2. This piece of evidence demonstrates that decarceration strategies used in five American states successfully reduced prison incarceration rates with no adverse effects for public safety. Reflecting on these decarceration strategies offers evidence-backed policies to implement within the Canadian context.

https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/decarceration-strategies-5-states-achieved-substantial-prison-population-reductions/

3. This piece of evidence demonstrates a majority inequity within the Canadian prison system; the massive overrepresentation of Indigenous people amongst inmates.

https://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/comm/press/press20200121-eng.aspx

4. This piece of evidence demonstrates a majority of Canadians support restorative justice, though lack of familiarity unsurprisingly creates questions from the general public about the exact process.

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/rg-rco/2018/mar08.html

5. This piece of evidence demonstrates that, while research into restorative justice practices is still relatively new, current Canadian restorative justice programs indicate a higher level of satisfaction among both the offender and the victim than traditional practices.

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/jsp-sjp/rr00_16/p3.html

6. This piece of evidence demonstrates that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action advocates for federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work towards providing alternatives to imprisonment for Indigenous offenders.

http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf