This section is meant for those working in or adjacent to the criminal legal system. We hope it might help some get a better understanding of how they can support those who are racialized and disabled, as well as how they can enact abolitionist tendencies in to their professional work as individuals, or organizations.
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Abolition and Disability Justice in Professional Environments
Compassionate people who want to help others sometimes end up working jobs or careers that function within or adjacent to the criminal legal system (CLS).
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Unfortunately the canadian criminal legal system - from police, to courts, to prisons and parole - were built upon principles and practises that are racist, ableist, and which also endanger people's lives. The majority of frontline or social service agencies either intentionally or unintentionally enable this discrimination by relying on policing as a first response, or even utilizing carceral practises themselves. White supremacy is so engrained in our British common law systems that reform will never be an adequate solution.
Instead, we need to work towards community-led and transformative practises of safety, accountability and justice, including the abolition of our current criminal legal system and all carceral practises.
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The good news is that there are many people - including lawyers, social workers, teachers and doctors -already doing these critical examinations, reflection, and work.
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See our resources section below for articles, information, and toolkits for incorporating abolitionist tendencies in to professions such as lawyers, doctors or medical workers, social workers, and educators!
Understand how being Black, Indigenous, or otherwise racialized impacts a person's every interaction with the criminal legal system - from someone's decision to call police, to the outcome of sentencing and parole.
Those who are disabled, autistic, or neurodivergent are more likely to have police called on them, interact with the court system, and face sentences that involve prison. Read more about barriers & ableism in our criminal legal system.
Find information about accessibillity requirements & accommodation requests that clients or patients can make within the criminal legal system.
A collection of resources for workers in or adjacent to the criminal legal system. Includes personal writings from professionals around abolition, and tools to move towards abolitionist & disability justice practises.