Course Description
This course introduces the profound impact of systemic anti-Black racism on Canada’s criminal justice system, highlighting its ongoing effects, including over-representation of Black individuals in arrests, convictions, and incarceration. It explains the importance of considering systemic factors in sentencing decisions to ensure proportionality, fairness, and equity. The chapter introduces tools like Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs) and Enhanced Pre-Sentence Reports (EPSRs), which provide context on offenders’ backgrounds, including systemic barriers and social inequities. This course lays the foundation for integrating social context evidence to create equitable sentencing outcomes and uphold public confidence in judicial fairness.
The content of this course was last updated in December 2024.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Justice Canada.
