Actions and Commitments

Call to Action # 30: Justice (25-42)

Custody Rating Scale Class Action Lawsuit

January 12, 2021

A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court challenges the Custody Rating Scale over systemic bias in its security classifications. “CSC’s ongoing use of [the Custody Rating Scale] on Indigenous inmates must be recognized as the product of deliberate and conscious race-based discriminatory treatment of Indigenous inmates that resulted in and continues to result in, longer and harsher prison sentences for indigenous people, especially Indigenous women,” the statement of claim reads in part.

The Capacity Building Fund of the Aboriginal Justice Program has not been accepting applications for a number of years despite significant success of the program in reducing recidivism.

Government also acknowledges impacts of systemic issues outside of justice system that also need to be addressed. Multiple initiatives at both the federal and provincial/territory levels.