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Aboriginal Federal Offender Surveys: A Synopsis

NCJ Number
183091
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2000 Pages: 25-27
Author(s)
Joseph C. Johnston
Editor(s)
Larry Motiuk Ph.D.
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Studies of male Aboriginal offenders serving Federal sentences in Canadian correctional institutions were conducted in 1994 and 1997.
Abstract
The first study in 1994 profiled about half of Northern Aboriginal offenders under Federal jurisdiction who were incarcerated in the Prairie Region and the Northwest Territories. The second study in 1997 involved a selected sample of Aboriginal offenders in Federal institutions. Both studies used similar data from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's criminal conviction records, case file reviews, and face-to-face interviews. Several themes were apparent in the two studies. The overall incarcerated Aboriginal population constituted a high needs group that largely shared a background of physical or sexual abuse, early drug and alcohol use, emotional problems, and poor parenting, and had high educational and employment needs. Aboriginal offenders participated in various aspects of a traditional way of life that was fundamental to Aboriginal society as a whole. The two study samples differed in their feelings toward correctional institution staff, with the 1994 sample indicating more positive feelings than the 1997 sample and the 1994 sample feeling much more isolated from their land and culture due to incarceration. The author concludes that the Aboriginal offender population presents a special set of corrections challenges related to language, culture, and programming needs. 5 footnotes and 1 table