Transcript Thinking about the Over-Representation of Certain Groups in the Canadian Criminal

Thinking about the
Over-Representation of Certain
Groups in the Canadian Criminal
Justice System: A Conceptual
Framework
Cheryl Marie Webster
Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa
and
Anthony N. Doob
Centre of Criminology, University of Toronto
What We are NOT Discussing
• A full review of the Canadian literature on this
topic
• Under-representation of certain
criminal justice professions
groups
• Methodological concerns of measurement
• Solutions per se
in
What we WILL be Discussing
• Conceptual framework for thinking about the
issue
• Rejection of the simplistic notions frequently
used to explain the over-representation of
certain group
– ‘bad’ people (simple crime rate hypothesis)
– ‘bad’ decisions (simple discrimination hypothesis)
• Focus on the complexities of the processes
which
lead
to
certain
groups
being
disadvantaged in relation to criminal justice
system
Complexities in Understanding
Differential Criminal Justice Outcomes
across Groups
• Contextual Factors
• Behavioural Factors
• ‘Fear Factor’
• Normative Factors
Conclusions
• Simplistic explanations should be rejected
– do not accurately describe reality
– do not suggest possible solutions
• Balanced solutions
– Within criminal justice system
– Within wider society
• Solutions within criminal justice system
– Focus on procedural sources of disadvantage
– Recognition of collateral effects of criminal justice policies
– Focus on fairness
• Broader societal solutions
– Accept and address causes of group differences
– Address disadvantaged communities