Indigenous Justice Centres in British Columbia

Indigenous Justice Centre Objectives

Incorporating the priorities determined by community experts, the general objectives for the IJCs identified by the BC First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC) are as follows:

1. Keep Indigenous people safe by reducing incarceration.

• Facilitation of Gladue reports to support accused;
• Promoting and facilitating expanded community support for accused at trial;
• Seeking greater use of restorative justice in sentencing; and
• Seeking reduction in numbers of sentencing/release conditions which unnecessarily increase the likelihood of re-incarceration on breach.

2. Divert Indigenous people to a healthy path away from justice involvement.

• Promoting diversion as a “first option” at all levels of the criminal justice process;
• Promoting better transitions from jail and reintegration into community; and
• Referrals to health / treatment services, victim services, or other supportive programming.

3. Make the justice system experience more Indigenous.

• Provision of a safe cultural space for Indigenous service providers to assist clients
• Supporting community efforts to implement or expand traditional Indigenous justice forms and seek self-determination in justice matters

4. Make it easier for Indigenous people to navigate justice and obtain support.

• Legal representation and/or legal referrals in child welfare and criminal cases
• Elder and community support at court and other forums
• Outreach on access to justice and legal literacy regarding child welfare processes and criminal law
• Functioning as a focal/referral point for Indigenous-serving organizations