Researchers determined that ethnocultural diversity in Canada is becoming a more high profile issue as the population's ethnic mix changes. Discrimination is viewed as a significant problem, and cultural influences are causing some strains between the desire of minorities to maintain their traditional cultures and social practices and the criminal justice system. Even though research does not provide conclusive evidence of racism in Canada's criminal justice system, perceptions are widely held that racism exists. Therefore, the criminal justice system must provide access to minorities and ethnocultural communities must play a more direct role. Criminal justice system professionals need to receive cultural sensitivity training, and efforts must be made to recruit minority members into the field. There is also a need for effective complaint and redress mechanisms for minority groups and for a community-oriented approach to addressing criminal justice issues. Supplemental information on the role of multiculturalism in the criminal justice system is appended. 359 footnotes