#National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
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Today (October 4) is Canada's National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
Indigenous women and girls are at a disproportionate risk for violence. Indigenous women are women are over-represented among Canada’s murdered and missing women. (They are also disproportionately incarcerated and involved in the sex trade.) This is a significant, persistent, and deliberate pattern of systemic racial and sex-based human rights violations.
Because Canada is Canada, the government decided to do an inquiry report to look into this crisis that we already knew was a crisis. This report called Canada's MMIWG crisis "genocide." This is neither exaggeration nor understatement.
Despite this report, and the concrete actions it listed that the government could take to address the MMIWG crisis, the Canadian government has taken only symbolic action to protect Indigenous women and girls nation-wide.
Because today is the day of action, here are some actions you can take.
First, educate yourself. Read the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Among the calls for justice in the report are eight actions all Canadians should take:
"1. Denounce and speak out against violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
2. Decolonize by learning the true history of Canada and Indigenous history in your local area. Learn about and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ history, cultures, pride, and diver- sity, acknowledging the land you live on and its importance to local Indigenous communities, both historically and today.
3. Develop knowledge and read the Final Report. Listen to the truths shared, and acknowl- edge the burden of these human and Indigenous rights violations, and how they impact Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people today.
4. Using what you have learned and some of the resources suggested, become a strong ally. Being a strong ally involves more than just tolerance; it means actively working to break down barriers and to support others in every relationship and encounter in which you participate.
5. Confront and speak out against racism, sexism, ignorance, homophobia, and transpho- bia, and teach or encourage others to do the same, wherever it occurs: in your home, in your workplace, or in social settings.
6. Protect, support, and promote the safety of women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people by acknowledging and respecting the value of every person and every community, as well as the right of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people to generate their own, self-determined solutions.
7. Create time and space for relationships based on respect as human beings, supporting and embracing differences with kindness, love, and respect. Learn about Indigenous principles of relationship specific to those Nations or communities in your local area and work, and put them into practice in all of your relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
8. Help hold all governments accountable to act on the Calls for Justice, and to implement them according to the important principles we set out."
If you are Canadian, please write to your elected officials and demand that they act on the report's Calls for Justice. (Amnesty International provides some templates for letter writing: 1, 2, 3, 4)
If you are not Canadian, I would encourage you to write to your government and call on them to take formal action against Canada to make our government take action to protect Indigenous women and girls.
Please stop letting us get away with being 'the good guys' just because we're next to the States. The countless deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls have not been enough to force Canadians to act. We need international backlash.
I encourage you to educate your friends and family on this issue. Too many Indigenous women and girls go without justice everyday.
(And because I know Tumblr is full of Americans and this isn't just a Canada problem, I'm linking this report on MMIWG in the US.)
#mmiwg#missing and murdered indigenous women#National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls#I cannot stress enough that my country is actively doing genocide#tw violence against women
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The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: An Ongoing Tragedy
Shaina Tranquilino
October 4, 2023
The issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women is a devastating tragedy that has plagued Indigenous communities for decades. Despite being deeply rooted in the history of colonization, it remains an ongoing crisis that demands immediate attention. This blog post aims to shed light on this heartbreaking reality and urges society to acknowledge, address, and support initiatives aimed at ending the violence.
A Historical Context:
To truly understand the gravity of the situation, we must recognize the historical context in which this epidemic has unfolded. Since European colonization began in North America, Indigenous women have faced systemic discrimination, marginalization, and violence. These injustices persist today as a direct result of centuries-long oppression and the erosion of Indigenous cultures.
Disturbing Statistics:
The statistics surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous women are both shocking and disheartening. According to a 2016 report by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), there were over 5,700 cases of missing or murdered Indigenous American women recorded in the United States alone. Alarmingly, many believe these numbers may be underestimated due to underreporting or misclassification by law enforcement agencies.
Root Causes:
Numerous factors contribute to this crisis. Poverty, limited access to education and healthcare services, high rates of domestic violence within communities, institutional racism, inadequate law enforcement response, and human trafficking all play significant roles in perpetuating this cycle of violence against Indigenous women.
The Need for Awareness & Advocacy:
Raising awareness about this issue is crucial towards mobilizing action to end it. It requires educating ourselves and others about the plight faced by Indigenous women who continue to disappear or be victimized every day. Social media campaigns like #MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) have played a pivotal role in bringing attention to their stories while demanding justice.
Government Action & Accountability:
Addressing this crisis necessitates a multi-faceted approach. Governments at all levels must take concrete steps to address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, including improving collaboration between law enforcement agencies, enhancing victim services, and implementing culturally sensitive policies. Additionally, funding programs that empower Indigenous communities and strengthen support systems are essential for long-term change.
Community Empowerment:
Indigenous communities have been fighting tirelessly to protect their women and girls. Supporting grassroots organizations led by Indigenous people who understand the unique challenges faced by their community is crucial in eradicating this issue. By amplifying voices from within these communities, we can ensure that culturally appropriate solutions are implemented while fostering healing and resilience.
The missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis demands urgent attention from society as a whole. Recognizing the historical context, understanding the systemic issues involved, advocating for awareness, holding governments accountable, and empowering affected communities are all integral components of bringing an end to this deeply entrenched tragedy.
To honour the lives lost and prevent future victimization, it is our collective responsibility to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities and work towards creating a world where every woman feels safe, valued, and protected. Only through unity can we hope to achieve justice for the missing and murdered Indigenous women who deserve nothing less than our unwavering commitment to ending this heartbreaking reality once and for all.
#MMIW#MMIWG#Indigenous women#missing and murdered indigenous women#justice for our sisters#protect our women#no more stolen sisters#support Indigenous communities#stop the violence#raise awareness#honouring our ancestors#remember their names#break the silence#stand with Indigenous women
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Today is May 5th, the national day of remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, children, Trans, and Two-Spirited people. Here are some statistics and facts that more people should be aware of along with resources as I go.
• On average, the 1st sexual assault on an Indigenous child happens at 13 years old.
• More than 4 out of 5 American Indian and Alaskan Native Women have experienced violence in their lifetime.
•Indigenous People are murdered at a rate 10x the National Average.
• Most violent crimes perpetrated on Native People are committed by non Native People.
• The 2nd Leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaskan Native girls aged 1-4 is homicide.
• Recently A Statistics Canada analysis found 81 per cent of Indigenous women who had been in the child-welfare system had been physically or sexually assaulted in their life.
• Homicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among Native Girls and Women aged 10-24 and jumps to 5th from 25-34
• There were 506 cases of MMIWG in 71 urban cities across the U.S., In New Mexico alone, there is the highest incidents of MMIW sitting at 78 cases. Keep in mind that cases involving LGBTQ2S+ have been undercounted.
Here is an update of the bodies of Indigenous children found on Residential School properties.
As of March 2022, 10,028 unmarked graves have been found at former residential schools across Canada.
Under the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, The US is reported to begin searching residential schools, through the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiativebut it’s not currently clear when this will start.
There is so much overwhelming information, but there does seem to be some hope, 16 states including Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Kansas have taken legislative action to address MMIWR, and hopefully along with the search of residential schools, we can start bringing all of our relatives home.
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Just some incomplete notes as a friendly reminder that
May 5th is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, February 14th is the date for MMIW Marches across Canada, and October 4th is the day of Vigil for our stolen sisters
MMIW also includes girls as young as infants, and gender diverse individuals → MMIWG2S+
While government organizations appear to be raising awareness, creating National Action Plans and declaring National Emergencies, police are complicit in kidnapping and murdering our people wether through acts of violence (for personal gratification or to enable further extractive development which increases raises risk factors) or refusal to investigate (due to jurisdictional issues, to cover it up, or because they’re conditioned to believe that our deaths aren’t worth explaining and that our lives don’t matter).
Colonial violence is alive and well, and it’s up to each and every one of us to contribute to meaningful changes to protect our women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
There are tons of resources for learning more, but I highly recommend checking out Sovereign Bodies Institute at https://www.sovereign-bodies.org/
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National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People
May 5th was the day,
A blog post at Sicangu Community Development Corporation explains the purpose:
Maybe you’ve seen the hashtag #MMIW on social media, or its counterpart, #MMIWG2. Both stand for Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, the latter adding on G2 for Girls and Two-Spirits. The hashtag was created to spread awareness for a generations-long silent epidemic that has stolen the lives of Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirits across Turtle Island (North America).
The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center has more important information. I was very moved by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada has unveiling The Red Amautiit Project.
I suspect for a lot of White people, I'm "too woke." But most of the time I'm rather chagrined by how unaware I am, and in particular how I turn away from difficult realities. On May 5th, I couldn't think of any useful way to raise awareness of the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women.
Today, E. Jean Carroll won a judgment against Donald Trump. Carroll throughout the whole process has stated the the me too movement inspired her to come forward. That’s made me think again about “awareness.”
Back when the hashtag #MeToo was being posted everywhere, I noticed a male friend had posted #MeToo. I thought at the time something like: It's not for you. There are many particulars about sexual violence that are very important. But in in a general sense facing the reality of sexual violence is the critical thing for everybody. And by facing it to become open to healing action.
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The trans cult just have to give themselves another day. And to have this just two days after May 5th which is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is just extra disgusting.
ASBURY PARK, N.J. -- Asbury Park has declared May 7 "Drag Queen Visibility Day."
The proclamation comes after several pieces of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation were proposed across the country.
A day-long festival will be held on May 7 highlighting drag performers.
The proclamation will also be recognized by the governor's office.
May 5 is commemorated as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The day became recognized in 2017 when Montana Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester responded to the murder of Hanna Harris on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, as well as the cumulation of other murders and abductions of Native women and girls. Since then, grassroots efforts at local, regional, national, and international levels have grown as Indigenous families, advocates, and Indigenous nations continue to call attention to the violence and galvanize action in response to the MMIWG crisis.
We encourage you to join community actions this week to raise awareness and call on governments to be accountable to the injustices and systemic barriers embedded in federal and local legislation that perpetuate this crisis. As Hanna Harris’s mother, Malinda Limberhand, aptly said: “As a mother, nothing will replace the loss of my daughter, but by organizing to support the National Day of Awareness and creating the changes needed, I know it will help others. And Hanna and so many others will not be forgotten.”
7 Actions to Take for National Day of Awareness for #MMIWG
1. Wear red, take a photo, and share it on social media to bring awareness of #MMIWG.
Share a photo. Make sure to use hashtags #MMIW, #MMIWG, #MMIWG2S, #MMIWActionNow, and #NoMoreStolenSisters!
2. Join the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center in these 3 calls to action:
Urge your Senators to pass Family Violence Prevention & Services (#FVPSA) reauthorization with key Tribal provisions: n8ve.net/Ts6M5
Tag The Justice Department, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and the US Interior on social media and demand they immediately implement the Not Invisible Act
Tag the Justice Department and the FBI on social media and demand they improve MMIW data collection under Savanna’s Act . #MMIW, #MMIWG, #MMIWG2S, #MMIWActionNow #NoMoreStolenSisters
3. Watch "Voices Unheard."
A short film by Native Hope. Marty Coulee is a Native American entrepreneur living the good life. When her Native American business partner Jess, vanishes without a trace on a business trip to Arizona, Marty becomes a voice for the voices unheard.
4. Watch “Bring Her Home.”
This film follows three Indigenous women – an artist, an activist, and a politician – as they fight to vindicate and honor their missing and murdered relatives who have fallen victims to a growing epidemic across Indian country. Despite the lasting effects from historical trauma, each woman must search for healing while navigating racist systems that brought about this very crisis.
5. Listen to our Indigenous Rights Radio interview with Leya Hale.
Leya Hale (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Navajo) is a storyteller, documentary filmmaker, and a producer with Twin Cities PBS (TPT). Her recent film, "Bring Her Home," addresses the epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in the United States.
6. Include Two-Spirit Relatives in Awareness of MMIWG2S.
It is imperative to include Two-Spirit relatives in the raising of awareness of MMIWG. Read about the meaning of Two-Spirit to learn about the many intersections of violence that threaten Two-Spirit people. To learn more and give support, visit organizations such as Families of Sisters in Spirit and read this organizing toolkit from the Sovereign Bodies Institute. For immediate help with a case of domestic violence or dating violence, please visit StrongHearts Native Helpline's online Chat Advocacy or helpline (1-844-7NATIVE).
7. Claim free print subscription for NIWRC’s Restoration of Native Sovereignty and Safety for Native Women magazine, courtesy of Urban Indian Health Institute.
#Asbury park#New Jersey#may 7#drag Queen Visibility Day#Drag queens don’t need more visibility#how many days does the trans cult have now?#And how many of this days conflict or are very close to days dedicated to other groups?
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Hiii! Can we maybe have some positivity for Indigenous systems? This week's the Week of Action to Awareness and yesterday was the National Day of Awareness for MMIGW2S ( Missing and Murdered Girls, Women and Two Spirits ) and I& know it's very hard on us& personally. An elder told me& it's a community & intergenerational trauma that effects everyone, regardless of other intersecting identities, even those who aren't personally affected by it, and as a multigenic DID Native system, it really hits close to home and i'm& sure the same can be applied to other Indigenous systems. We& had to call a helpline several times yesterday, so it would be greatly appreciated because we need that support and there's a lot of undiagnosed Indigenous systems out there because we're so heavily underdiagnosed because of our indigeneity.
Hi - absolutely! We would be quite happy to write this post. We’ve bumped this ask up so we can have the positivity post on our blog before the Week of Action is over. You& can expect it on our blog tomorrow night at 8PM EST!
We understand that life can be incredibly challenging for indigenous people, and indigenous systems especially! Indigenous systems will always be welcome and uplifted in our spaces. Thank you& so much for requesting this - we hope our post will be cheerful and respectful!
(Also we got two quite similar asks from you&! We’re posting this one and will probably delete the other since they’re both very similar and are requesting similar positivity posts. We hope that’s okay!)
🌸 Margo and 💚 Ralsei
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It’s American Thanksgiving time again, for those who celebrate it. It’s also Native American Heritage Month, with Thursday being National Day of Mourning and Friday being Native American Heritage Day. This year, specifically, is the 53rd annual Day of Mourning.
“The National Day of Mourning protest was founded by Wamsutta Frank James, an Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal member.” This started in 1970, in protest at a speech at a Thanksgiving event for Massachusetts, where Wamsutta was supposed to talk about the Thanksgiving myth, but instead wrote a speech about the fate of the Wampanoag at the hands of the Pilgrims, as well as ongoing colonization. You can read an excerpt here.
Speeches at the annual gathering on Cole’s Hill include current topics relevant to Native Americans, such as the Supreme Court cases surrounding the Indian Child Welfare Act and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People.
I usually like to end posts like this with a “call to action.” But honestly, I’m not the right person for that. You can start with this list of 100 things you can do to be an ally to Indigenous communities. I recommend checking out organizations like Native Women Wilderness, Indigenous Women Hike, or your local tribe, Urban Indian Center, or other Indigenous organization to learn more and see how you can best support Indigenous movements. There are places to make donations to, posts to share, and things to learn.
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instagram
safehalton May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples. This day, also known as Red Dress Day is recognized as part of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Week of Action.
On this day, and during this week, we honour and remember all missing and murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
The dresses are empty, to symbolize the missing and murdered persons who should be wearing them.
Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or missing than any other women in Canada.
#genderbasedviolence
#VAW
#endvaw
#mmiwg2s
#Mmiw
#nomorestolensisters
#SAAM
#women
#endsexualviolence
#survivors
#reddressday
#mentalhealth
#rapeculture
#safehalton
#supportsurvivors
#trauma
#ptsd
#sexualassault
#womenempowerment
#consent
#narcissisticabuse
#sexualabuse
#psychologicalabuse
#sexualassaultawarenessmonth
#sexualabuse
#childhoodabuse
#metoo
#domesticviolence
#domesticviolencesurvivor
#sexualassault
#rapesurvivor
#livedexperience
#Instagram#genderbasedviolence#VAW#endvaw#mmiwg2s#Mmiw#nomorestolensisters#SAAM#women#endsexualviolence#survivors#reddressday#mentalhealth#rapeculture#safehalton#supportsurvivors#trauma#ptsd#sexualassault#womenempowerment#consent#narcissisticabuse#sexualabuse#psychologicalabuse#sexualassaultawarenessmonth#childhoodabuse#metoo#domesticviolence#domesticviolencesurvivor#rapesurvivor
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École Polytechnique: Global Fight Against Gender-based Violence
Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women:
“On this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, we remember the 14 young women who were senselessly murdered and the 13 others who were injured at the École Polytechnique de Montréal. Today, we pay tribute to their lives that were tragically cut short simply because they were women, and we reaffirm our commitment to eliminate gender-based violence.
“As we remember the victims of this hateful, cowardly act, we are also reminded that, for many women, girls, and gender-diverse people in Canada and around the world, the violent misogyny that led to this tragedy still exists. The risk of violence is even higher for Indigenous women and girls, racialized women, women living in rural and remote areas, people in 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and women with disabilities. That is why we have and continue to strengthen our laws and ensure supports for victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
“Through the Gender-Based Violence Strategy, we are delivering crucial community-based and trauma-informed support for victims, survivors, and their families. Last year, we launched the It’s Not Just campaign to help young people recognize, build awareness of, and end gender-based violence.
“We are also working with provinces and territories across Canada to implement the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence – which sets a framework to have a Canada free of gender-based violence, with supports for victims, survivors, and their families. We have already announced bilateral agreements with Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut, the Yukon, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick – ensuring supports are readily available and accessible across the country. There is also more work to do to put an end to the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. We will continue to work in partnership with Indigenous families, Survivors, leaders, and partners, as well as with provinces and territories, to implement the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway to make our communities safer.
“We are also taking transformative action to strengthen gun control measures and address the alarming role of firearms in domestic and gender-based violence. We banned over 1,500 models of assault-style firearms and their variants, including the weapon used at the École Polytechnique. We implemented a national handgun freeze, restricting the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns, and through Bill C-21, we can implement some of the strongest measures in Canadian history to tackle gun violence and keep our communities safe.
“As we mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, I encourage Canadians to honour the victims and survivors of the École Polytechnique massacre. You can wear a white ribbon, attend a vigil in your community, or observe a moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. Together, we can and must put an end to gender-based violence and build a safer, more inclusive future, where everyone can reach their full potential.”
Sources: THX News & The Canadian Government.
Read the full article
#16DaysofActivism#ÉcolePolytechniquemassacre#Gender-BasedViolence#Gender-BasedViolenceStrategy#Guncontrolmeasures#It'sNotJustcampaign#MissingandMurderedIndigenousWomen#NationalActionPlan#NationalDayofRemembrance#Whiteribbon
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It’s Native American Heritage Month
Photo by Tailyr Irvine
(11/24/2023) In addition to learning and celebrating the history of indigenous peoples, we must support indigenous peoples and communities that are alive today and have been alive for centuries.
I currently live on the lands of the Wyandot, Mississauga, Potawatomi, and Anishinabek people. These people lived here for thousands of years before white settlers colonized the land in the 1800s. I will always support indigenous liberation and sovereignty.
To my non-native US and Canadian followers -- if you’re new to the Land Back Movement, you can start by learning whose land you’re on here. Land acknowledgment is the first step, and from there you can reach out to your neighboring First Nation to start building relationships and learn how you can support them. There are still SO many non-native folks in the U.S. who don’t know the history of American colonialism and acts of state-sanctioned genocide committed against Native Americans -- acts that are still ongoing to this day. I know this is kinda poli sci 101 and this has been said already, but we need to continue educating ourselves and each other. Education is one of our greatest tools in the fight against colonialism and imperialism. Knowing that, I'm sharing some current issues that are threatening indigenous people and communities. These are not exclusively indigenous issues either -- they are issues that concern humanity as a whole.
It is also important we build our communities around things that are positive such as art, literature, and culture. So to bolster these things, I'm also sharing some indigenous content creators, authors, and shops. Thank you to @help-ivebeen-turned-into-aparrot for the recommendations and expanding this list!
Remember history, celebrate Native American heritage, and stay informed! Links below the cut.
Current Major Issues (as of November 2023)
Navajo Nation Water Rights
Overview (NARF)
Resources and how to help (from 2020, still valuable)
Alaskan Ambler Road
Overview (Winter Wildlands Alliance)
Paving Tundra, a short documentary
Take action
Nevada Lithium Mine
Overview (First Nations)
People of Red Mountain/how to help
Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women
Info and overview (Native Hope)
Mission
Native American History and Culture
The books and articles with links are freely available. To read the others, you might be able to find them at a nearby library using WorldCat.
Introduction to Native American History by Native Hope
Stories, Dreams, and Ceremonies: Anishinaabe ways of learning by Leanne Simpson
Origin and Traditional History of the Wyandotts by Peter D. Clarke
Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 11: Great Basin by William C. Sturtevant and Warren L. D'Azevedo
Shoshonean Peoples and the Overland Trails by Dale L. Morgan
Diné History of Navajoland by Klara Kelley and Harris Francis
Native American-Owned Shops
Thunder Voice Hat Co. - handmade hats, hat accessories, and other apparel.
Kotah Bear - blankets, robes, and jewelry. Owned by two people of Navajo Nation, selling art and jewelry made by Navajo and Pueblo artists.
Manitobah - moccasins, mukluks, and other winterwear. A global brand founded by Sean McCormick, a Métis entrepreneur. Also has the Indigenous Market, which sells handmade products by indigenous artists from Canada and the US.
Little Inuk Beadwork - jewelry and accessories. Made by Lillian Putulik, Inuk artist.
Mobilize - streetwear and fashion. Founded by Dusty LeGrande, Nehiyaw artist and activist. Based in Edmonton, CA.
Authors
Moniquill Blackgoose - science fiction and fantasy. Seaconke Wampanoag author. To Shape A Dragon's Breath
Angeline Boulley - young adult thriller fiction. Chippewa author. Firekeeper's Daughter
Cherie Dimaline - Métis author, mostly YA fiction. The Marrow Thieves, Hunting by Stars, Funeral Songs for Dying Girls
Darcie Little Badger - science fiction and fantasy. Lipan Apache author. Elatsoe, A Snake Falls to Earth
Stephen Graham Jones - horror fiction. Blackfoot Native American author. The Only Good Indians, Mongrels, After the People Lights Have Gone Off
Delphine Red Shirt - autobiographies, culture, oral tradition. Oglala Lakota author. Turtle Lung Woman's Granddaughter, Bead on an Anthill: A Lakota Childhood, George Sword's Warrior Narratives
Dani Trujillo - romance. Chicana/Pueblo author. Lizards Hold the Sun
Content Creators
Che Jim - humor, skits, social and political issues. Diné/Nishnaabe/Chicano content creator.
Lillian Putulik - art and jewelry. Nunavik Inuk artist.
Bossii Masu Nagaruk - current events and social and political issues. Iñupiaq content creator.
David Little Elk - educating about and celebrating Oglala Lakota tribal wisdom. Oglala content creator.
Edgar Martin del Campo - educating about cultures, languages, and religions of indigenous peoples of North and South America.
Casey (aka Hot Glue Burns on insta) - cosplay and cosplay design/creation.
#native american heritage month#important#I follow all these content creators and some were recommended by my friend L#by no means a comprehensive list and I encourage everyone to go follow more indigenous folks if you aren’t already#tried to include very broad history as well as more specific history#I focused on groups from the great basin and around the great lakes only because that happens to be my wheelhouse#thank you again L I love you!
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Holidays 10.4
Holidays
Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Day
Cable Street Day (UK)
Carrying in the Pudding (London, UK)
Ctenophore Day
Day of Peace and Reconciliation (Mozambique)
Day of the Space Forces (Russia)
Dick Tracy Day
eDay (New Zealand)
Forever Alone Day
Get Your Friend Day
Global Work From Home (WFH) Day
Golf Lovers Day (a.k.a. National Golf Day)
Hug a Non-Meat Eater Day
Improve Your Office Day
International Dakota Johnson Day
International No Disposable Cup Day
International Sputnik Day
International Toot Your Flute Day
International Walk & Bike to School Day
International Wound Hygiene Day
International Zookeeper Day
Kids Music Day
Kindness to Animals Day
National CB Radio Day
National Clothespin Day
National COVID-19 Remembrance Day
National Day of Action for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit People (Canada)
National Day of Chilean Music (Chile)
National Day of Life (Colombia)
National 4-H Spirit Day
National Laura Day
National Ship in a Bottle Day
National Side Bae Day
National Sisters in Spirit Day (Canada)
National Talk Like a Trucker Day
National Teach German Day
National Trucker’s Appreciation Day
Peace and Reconciliation Day (Mozambique)
See the Light Day
Snoopy Day
Territory Day (Christmas Island)
Thanksgiving Day (Saint Lucia)
Thimpu Tsechu (Bhutan)
Ten-Four Day
What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? Day
Winter Squash Day (French Republic)
World Animal Day
World Day of Bullying Prevention
World Dyslexia Day
World Pet’s Day
World RBD Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
Canadian Beer Day
Cinnamon Roll Day (Finland)
Kanelbullens Dag (Cinnamon Bun Day; Sweden)
National Frappe Day
National Taco Day
National Vodka Day
Sardines Day (Japan)
1st Wednesday in October
Balloons Around the World Day [1st Wednesday]
California Clean Air Day (California) [1st Wednesday]
Canadian Beer Day (Canada) [Wednesday before 2nd Monday]
Children’s Day (Chile) [1st Wednesday]
Energy Efficiency Day [1st Wednesday]
International Walk to School Day [1st Wednesday]
National Coffee with a Cop Day [1st Wednesday]
National Kale Day [1st Wednesday]
National Pumpkin Seed Day [1st Wednesday]
Nottingham Goose Fair begins (UK) [1st Wednesday thru Sunday]
Random Acts of Poetry Day [1st Wednesday]
Semana Morazánica begins (Honduras) [1st Wednesday]
Walk Maryland Day (Maryland) [1st Wednesday]
World Financial Planning Day [1st Wednesday]
Independence Days
Belgium (from the Netherlands, 1830)
Lesotho (from UK, 1966)
Feast Days
Amun (a.k.a. Ammon; Christian; Saint)
Aurea (Christian; Saint)
Beethoven (Positivist; Saint)
Buster Keaton Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Chong Yeung Festival (Festival of Ancestors; Macau)
David & Dickory (Muppetism)
Double Ninth Festival (China) [9th day of 9th Lunar month]
Edwin, King of Northumberland (Christian; Saint)
Elder’s Day (China) [9th Day of 9th Lunar Month]
Feast of Hathor (Egyptian God of Drunkenness)
Fortified Wines Day (Pastafarian)
Francesco Solimena (Artology)
Francis of Assisi (Christian; Saint)
Frederic Remington (Artology)
Ieiunium Cereris (Fast of Ceres; Ancient Rome)
Jean-François Millet (Artology)
Jejunium Cereris (Feast for Demeter; Pagan)
Lucas Cranach the Younger (Artology)
Marcus and Marcian (Christian; Martyrs)
Martyrs of Triers (Christian; Saint)
Petronius of Bologna (Christian; Saint)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Prime Number Day: 277 [59 of 72]
Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]
Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [46 of 57]
Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [46 of 60]
Premieres
ABC After School Specials (TV Series; 1972)
All the Right Reasons, by Nickelback (Album; 2005)
An American in Paris (Film; 1951)
The Batman Superman Movie: World’s Finest (WB Animated Film; 1997)
Beverly Hills 90120 (TV Series; 1990)
Bound (Film; 1996)
Bridge of Spies (Film; 2015)
Commando (Film; 1985)
Dolemite Is My Name (Film; 2019)
The EGGcited Rooster (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, by Donald J. Sobol (Novel; 1963)
Extraordinary Machine, by Fiona Apple (Album; 2005)
Gravity (Film; 2013)
Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby, by Louis Jordan (Song; 1943)
Joker (Film; 2019)
Knight Templar, by Leslie Charteris (Novel; 1930) [Saint #4]
The Last Emperor (Film; 1987)
Leave It To Beaver (TV Series; 1957)
The Longest Day (Film; 1962)
Lost Horizon, by James Hilton (Novel; 1933)
The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1962)
The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, by Albert Camus (Essays; 1942)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (Japanese Anime; 1995)
Notes on Democracy, by H.L. Mencken (Political Book; 19
The Thing You Do (Film; 1996)26)
The Saint, starring Roger Moore (TV Series; 1962)
Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! (WB Animated Film; 2022)
200 Motels, by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention (Soundtrack Album; 1968)
Walls & Bridges, by John Lennon (Album; 1974)
Today’s Name Days
Aurea, Edwin, Franz (Austria)
Franciska, Franjo, Franka (Croatia)
František (Czech Republic)
Franciscus (Denmark)
Randel, Rando, Randolf, Ranno (Estonia)
Frans, Saija, Saila (Finland)
Aure, Bérénice, François, Frank, Orianne, Sarah (France)
Aurora, Edwin, Emma, Franz, Thea (Germany)
Ierotheos, Kallisthenis, Verina (Greece)
Ferenc (Hungary)
Francesco, Petronio (Italy)
Francis, Modra, Zaigonis (Latvia)
Eivydė, Mąstautas, Pranas, Pranciškus (Lithuania)
Frank, Frans (Norway)
Edwin, Franciszek, Konrad, Konrada, Manfred, Manfreda, Rozalia (Poland)
Ierotei (Romania)
František (Slovakia)
Francisco (Spain)
Frank, Frans (Sweden)
Damara, Damaris, Berenice, Bernice, Bonita, Bonnie, Bunny, Fannie, Fanny, Frances, Francesca, Francesco, Francine, Francis, Francisco, Frank, Frankie (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 277 of 2024; 88 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 3 of week 40 of 2023
Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 2 of 28]
Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 20 (Yi-Wei)
Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)
Hebrew: 19 Tishri 5784
Islamic: 19 Rabi I 1445
J Cal: 7 Shù; Sevenday [7 of 30]
Julian: 21 September 2023
Moon: 70%: Waning Gibbous
Positivist: 25 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Beethoven]
Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 8 of 15]
Season: Autumn (Day 11 of 89)
Zodiac: Libra (Day 11 of 30)
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Holidays 10.4
Holidays
Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Day
Cable Street Day (UK)
Carrying in the Pudding (London, UK)
Ctenophore Day
Day of Peace and Reconciliation (Mozambique)
Day of the Space Forces (Russia)
Dick Tracy Day
eDay (New Zealand)
Forever Alone Day
Get Your Friend Day
Global Work From Home (WFH) Day
Golf Lovers Day (a.k.a. National Golf Day)
Hug a Non-Meat Eater Day
Improve Your Office Day
International Dakota Johnson Day
International No Disposable Cup Day
International Sputnik Day
International Toot Your Flute Day
International Walk & Bike to School Day
International Wound Hygiene Day
International Zookeeper Day
Kids Music Day
Kindness to Animals Day
National CB Radio Day
National Clothespin Day
National COVID-19 Remembrance Day
National Day of Action for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit People (Canada)
National Day of Chilean Music (Chile)
National Day of Life (Colombia)
National 4-H Spirit Day
National Laura Day
National Ship in a Bottle Day
National Side Bae Day
National Sisters in Spirit Day (Canada)
National Talk Like a Trucker Day
National Teach German Day
National Trucker’s Appreciation Day
Peace and Reconciliation Day (Mozambique)
See the Light Day
Snoopy Day
Territory Day (Christmas Island)
Thanksgiving Day (Saint Lucia)
Thimpu Tsechu (Bhutan)
Ten-Four Day
What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? Day
Winter Squash Day (French Republic)
World Animal Day
World Day of Bullying Prevention
World Dyslexia Day
World Pet’s Day
World RBD Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
Canadian Beer Day
Cinnamon Roll Day (Finland)
Kanelbullens Dag (Cinnamon Bun Day; Sweden)
National Frappe Day
National Taco Day
National Vodka Day
Sardines Day (Japan)
1st Wednesday in October
Balloons Around the World Day [1st Wednesday]
California Clean Air Day (California) [1st Wednesday]
Canadian Beer Day (Canada) [Wednesday before 2nd Monday]
Children’s Day (Chile) [1st Wednesday]
Energy Efficiency Day [1st Wednesday]
International Walk to School Day [1st Wednesday]
National Coffee with a Cop Day [1st Wednesday]
National Kale Day [1st Wednesday]
National Pumpkin Seed Day [1st Wednesday]
Nottingham Goose Fair begins (UK) [1st Wednesday thru Sunday]
Random Acts of Poetry Day [1st Wednesday]
Semana Morazánica begins (Honduras) [1st Wednesday]
Walk Maryland Day (Maryland) [1st Wednesday]
World Financial Planning Day [1st Wednesday]
Independence Days
Belgium (from the Netherlands, 1830)
Lesotho (from UK, 1966)
Feast Days
Amun (a.k.a. Ammon; Christian; Saint)
Aurea (Christian; Saint)
Beethoven (Positivist; Saint)
Buster Keaton Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Chong Yeung Festival (Festival of Ancestors; Macau)
David & Dickory (Muppetism)
Double Ninth Festival (China) [9th day of 9th Lunar month]
Edwin, King of Northumberland (Christian; Saint)
Elder’s Day (China) [9th Day of 9th Lunar Month]
Feast of Hathor (Egyptian God of Drunkenness)
Fortified Wines Day (Pastafarian)
Francesco Solimena (Artology)
Francis of Assisi (Christian; Saint)
Frederic Remington (Artology)
Ieiunium Cereris (Fast of Ceres; Ancient Rome)
Jean-François Millet (Artology)
Jejunium Cereris (Feast for Demeter; Pagan)
Lucas Cranach the Younger (Artology)
Marcus and Marcian (Christian; Martyrs)
Martyrs of Triers (Christian; Saint)
Petronius of Bologna (Christian; Saint)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Prime Number Day: 277 [59 of 72]
Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]
Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [46 of 57]
Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [46 of 60]
Premieres
ABC After School Specials (TV Series; 1972)
All the Right Reasons, by Nickelback (Album; 2005)
An American in Paris (Film; 1951)
The Batman Superman Movie: World’s Finest (WB Animated Film; 1997)
Beverly Hills 90120 (TV Series; 1990)
Bound (Film; 1996)
Bridge of Spies (Film; 2015)
Commando (Film; 1985)
Dolemite Is My Name (Film; 2019)
The EGGcited Rooster (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, by Donald J. Sobol (Novel; 1963)
Extraordinary Machine, by Fiona Apple (Album; 2005)
Gravity (Film; 2013)
Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby, by Louis Jordan (Song; 1943)
Joker (Film; 2019)
Knight Templar, by Leslie Charteris (Novel; 1930) [Saint #4]
The Last Emperor (Film; 1987)
Leave It To Beaver (TV Series; 1957)
The Longest Day (Film; 1962)
Lost Horizon, by James Hilton (Novel; 1933)
The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick (Novel; 1962)
The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, by Albert Camus (Essays; 1942)
Neon Genesis Evangelion (Japanese Anime; 1995)
Notes on Democracy, by H.L. Mencken (Political Book; 19
The Thing You Do (Film; 1996)26)
The Saint, starring Roger Moore (TV Series; 1962)
Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! (WB Animated Film; 2022)
200 Motels, by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention (Soundtrack Album; 1968)
Walls & Bridges, by John Lennon (Album; 1974)
Today’s Name Days
Aurea, Edwin, Franz (Austria)
Franciska, Franjo, Franka (Croatia)
František (Czech Republic)
Franciscus (Denmark)
Randel, Rando, Randolf, Ranno (Estonia)
Frans, Saija, Saila (Finland)
Aure, Bérénice, François, Frank, Orianne, Sarah (France)
Aurora, Edwin, Emma, Franz, Thea (Germany)
Ierotheos, Kallisthenis, Verina (Greece)
Ferenc (Hungary)
Francesco, Petronio (Italy)
Francis, Modra, Zaigonis (Latvia)
Eivydė, Mąstautas, Pranas, Pranciškus (Lithuania)
Frank, Frans (Norway)
Edwin, Franciszek, Konrad, Konrada, Manfred, Manfreda, Rozalia (Poland)
Ierotei (Romania)
František (Slovakia)
Francisco (Spain)
Frank, Frans (Sweden)
Damara, Damaris, Berenice, Bernice, Bonita, Bonnie, Bunny, Fannie, Fanny, Frances, Francesca, Francesco, Francine, Francis, Francisco, Frank, Frankie (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 277 of 2024; 88 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 3 of week 40 of 2023
Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 2 of 28]
Chinese: Month 8 (Xin-You), Day 20 (Yi-Wei)
Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)
Hebrew: 19 Tishri 5784
Islamic: 19 Rabi I 1445
J Cal: 7 Shù; Sevenday [7 of 30]
Julian: 21 September 2023
Moon: 70%: Waning Gibbous
Positivist: 25 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Beethoven]
Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 8 of 15]
Season: Autumn (Day 11 of 89)
Zodiac: Libra (Day 11 of 30)
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Indigenous rights advocates in Canada and the United States have renewed longstanding calls for concrete action to stem disproportionate rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls in both countries.
Thursday marks Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day in the US, while it is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), otherwise known as Red Dress Day, in Canada.
“The Federal Government has an obligation to ensure that cases of missing or murdered persons are met with swift and effective action,” US President Joe Biden said in a proclamation recognising the day.
“My Administration is fully committed to investigating and resolving these cases through a coordinated law enforcement response, as well as intervention and prevention efforts. We are also dedicated to researching the underlying causes of this violence and to working with Native communities to address them,” Biden said.
Indigenous communities have sounded the alarm for years over the disproportionately high number of women, girls and two-spirit people who have been killed or disappeared in the US and Canada. Two-spirit is a term used by some Indigenous people to describe their gender and spiritual identity.
Advocates also have denounced systemic inaction on the part of government and law enforcement agencies to address the issue.
In 2014, the federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that nearly 1,200 Indigenous women had been murdered or gone missing in Canada between 1980 and 2012 – but advocates say the real number was likely much higher.
A National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in 2019concluded that the violence “amounts to a race-based genocide of Indigenous Peoples” that especially targets women, girls and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
“This genocide has been empowered by colonial structures … leading directly to the current increased rates of violence, death, and suicide in Indigenous populations,” it said.
But Indigenous community advocates say too little has been done to address the problem.
“Almost three years after the National Inquiry into #MMIWG released their Final Report, we are still waiting on the concrete actions that must be taken outlined in the Calls for Justice,” Lynne Groulx, CEO of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), said on Twitter on Thursday.
In the US, the National Crime Information Center in 2016 documented 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, according to a report by the Urban Indian Health Institute (PDF).
“The Center[s] for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that murder is the third-leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women and that rates of violence on reservations can be up to ten times higher than the national average,” the report also said.
A 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice also found that 84.3 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, including 56.1 percent who have experienced sexual violence, the US Department of the Interior says on its website.
US interior secretary Deb Haaland, the first Indigenous person to head a cabinet agency in the history of the country, held an event on Thursday to recognise National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, but a lack of urgency, transparency and coordination have hampered our country’s efforts to combat violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives,” Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, said in a statement.
“As we work with the Department of Justice to prioritize the missing and murdered Indigenous people’s crisis, the Not Invisible Act Commission will help address the underlying roots of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis by ensuring the voices of those impacted by violence against Native people are included in our quest to implement solutions.”
The US Congress signed the Not Invisible Act into law in October 2020, just months before Biden took office, and the commission aims to increase coordination and implement best practices to fight “the epidemic of missing persons, murder, and trafficking” affecting Indigenous communities.
In Canada, communities are hanging red dresses on Thursday to symbolise the many Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered in the past decades.
“I’m wearing red on #RedDressDay to remember all the #MMIWG and to honour their families and communities. I’m wearing red also because I continue to hold a vision of the future where our women and girls are protected and treated with dignity and respect always,” RoseAnne Archibald, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Canada, tweeted.
“On May 5, we will see the red dresses suspended from trees, hanging from windows, swaying in the breeze. But we will see much more than that. We will see the people who would have worn those crimson garments,” Lorraine Whitman, president of NWAC, said in a statement this week.
“They were our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, our aunties, our friends … We want to know what happened. How were they taken from us? And why? But mostly, we want to know that other families will be spared this pain.”
#May 5th is National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG#RedDressDay
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October 4 was the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. I stopped in to the vigil at All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral. Pictured is the Ven. Travis Enright, Archdeacon for Indigenous Ministries, Chubby Cree, and Michelle Nieviadomy, one of the poets who presented. I had to leave early because it was Kol Nidre night (beginning of Yom Kippur), but there was a good turnout and a great program planned. #yeg #yegdt #mmiwg #indigenous #yegwomen #stolensisters #sistersinspirit (at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral, Edmonton) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjYDgSyrKUn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Correctional services, both institutional and within the community, are impacted by COVID-19. In the current paper, we focus on the current situation and examine the tensions around how COVID-19 has introduced new challenges while also exacerbating strains on the correctional system. Here, we make recommendations that are directly aimed at how correctional systems manage COVID-19 and address the nature and structure of correctional systems that should be continued after the pandemic. In addition, we highlight and make recommendations for the needs of those who remain incarcerated in general, and for Indigenous people in particular, as well as for those who are serving their sentences in the community. Further, we make recommendations for those working in closed-custody institutions and employed to support the re-entry experiences of formerly incarcerated persons. We are at a critical juncture—where reflection and change are possible—and we put forth recommendations toward supporting those working and living in correctional services as a way forward during the pandemic and beyond.
Note from the authors
In the current policy briefing, we use the terms “imprisoned people” and “incarcerated persons” because this terminology is less stigmatizing than terms such as “inmates” or “prisoners”. We are restricting the current policy brief to recommendations concerning prison living and post-prison living in an era of “decarceration”, which refers to reducing the size of the incarcerated population. We recognize that decarceration includes alternatives to imprisonment such as pretrial diversion practices or alternatives introduced at the back and front-end of sentencing, which are largely beyond the scope of the current brief.
We also recognize that there are many marginalized and vulnerable populations in prison, including: women, people with mental health disorders or needs and substance use challenges, persons with brain injuries, persons with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder and other health-related conditions, transgender and non-binary self-identifying persons, and other equity-seeking groups. It is beyond the scope of the current brief to attend to the complexity of each groups’ needs and unique positioning in detail. For instance, while the needs of incarcerated Black Canadians and people of colour are important and worthy of attention, we chose to focus on the inequities of incarcerated Indigenous Peoples, because this group has the highest rates of incarceration for any sub-population in Canada (see “Indigenous persons in prison” section) and the robust empirical data on Indigenous Peoples in Canada and existing policy-oriented documents details their unique needs, such as the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s “Calls to Action”. We intend to address some of the unique needs of diverse populations in future policy briefings. The present brief is a starting point to highlight recommendations for various pressing issues, as evidenced during the trials and tribulations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. As researchers, we are committed to provide evidence-informed recommendations.
Introduction
In the days following 12 March 2020, when the World Health Organization declared Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic, the Canadian provinces and territories began imposing strict lockdown measures. These governments recognized closed-custody correctional facilities, including prisons, correctional centres, and jails, as potentially high-risk for the transmission of COVID-19, despite confusion about how best to manage the virus in prisons (and other confined spaces). On 12 March 2020, the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers (UCCO-SACC-CSN), representing federal correctional officers employed by Correctional Service Canada (CSC), requested support from CSC to help ensure the health and safety of their members during the pandemic (UCCO-SACC-CSN 2020). Of course, it is not only the physical health risk posed by the novel virus that creates distress; researchers are finding that the mental health effects of COVID-19 are dire, as isolation and quarantine are having undeniable effects on people’s social and mental health (del Rio and Malani 2020; Rajkumar 2020; Torales et al. 2020; Xiong et al. 2020). The World Health Organization defines “health” as a having three facets—social, physical, and mental health—and urges us to recognize each as nonhierarchical components of health and as having a significant effect on people’s overall health (World Health Organization 2020).
In the spring of 2020, CSC reported several in-prison outbreaks of COVID-19 that affected both those housed and working in prison. Provincial and territorial institutions took urgent measures in response to the pandemic, such as decreasing the prison population by releasing those that were eligible (Statistics Canada 2020a, 2020b). Federal prisons also took steps to manage the virus by suspending visits and programming, imposing lockdowns, distributing personal protective equipment (PPE), and introducing additional measures for containing, testing, and detecting COVID-19. Altogether, COVID-19 and the institutional responses have affected the social, physical, and mental health of those housed in and employed by prisons.
By early November 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) updated COVID-19 guidelines to account for the risk posed by aerosol transmission of the virus (Miller 2020). Such a change is particularly important given public health measures informing that physical distancing alone, which is already near impossible in prison, does not adequately protect incarcerated persons from aerosol transmission, which requires well-ventilated spaces when indoors. Incarcerated persons sleep, eat, shower, use the washroom, and exercise, among other activities, in close proximity to other incarcerated persons, officers, and staff in often poorly ventilated prison spaces (Ricciardelli 2014b)—making aerosol transmission particularly concerning.
Officers and staff bear the status of essential service providers and now “face an unprecedented, ongoing challenge” if they are to limit (and manage) the spread of COVID-19 in prisons (Ricciardelli and Bucerius 2020). Staff and officers must balance staying safe and healthy while maintaining the care, custody, and control of incarcerated persons as well as striving not to infect their family members and friends or bringing COVID-19 into the institution. In some cases, despite an outbreak of COVID-19 in the correctional institution, correctional officers working in some provincial systems are asked to continue coming into work when COVID-19 outbreaks happen and to otherwise isolate when not working (Herring 2020). To this end, in Canada and abroad, COVID-19 “represents a serious threat to the health and welfare of people who live and work in these facilities” (Pyrooz et al. 2020, np, see also Kinner et al. 2020; Stephenson 2020).
Infectious disease is not a new concern in prison. About one-quarter of new correctional officer recruits, some with and some without prior correctional work experience, indicated (without being asked) that infectious disease was their biggest fear of working in a correctional institution (R. Ricciardelli, unpublished data). These findings predate the novel coronavirus and the possibility of airborne transmission, with interviewees reporting fears of hepatitis, HIV, and tuberculous. The COVID-19 pandemic imposes additional stress on a subpopulation already concerned about contagion, likely impacting officers’ well-being and mental health.
There are several factors that influence how easily COVID-19 can be introduced and spread in correctional institutions, including: the daily intake of incarcerated people in provincial and territorial systems, the movement of staff in and out of institutions, the physical layout and size of the respective prisons, shorter sentences (leading to potentially higher turnover rates), the use of holding cells for newly admitted people, and the demographic makeup and health conditions of the incarcerated population. However, empirical evidence in support of one of more of these explanations for COVID-19 infections in correctional settings is lacking. It is possible that the correlates of COVID-19 infection in non-institutionalized settings to not translate to institutionalized settings like jails and prisons.
As of 7 January 2021, in the federal correctional system, 1201 incarcerated persons had tested positive for COVID-19 in penitentiaries across the country, of which three incarcerated people had died (Correctional Service Canada 2020). At least in part, the more recent escalation in numbers can be attributed to the introduction of rapid testing in federal prisons. UCCO-SACC-CSN confirmed that, as of 4 November 2020, 123 federal correctional officers had tested positive (Robertson 2020). The provincial systems too have been impacted by multiple outbreaks. For instance, as of 31 October 2020, 104 of the 161 incarcerated people in the Calgary Correctional Centre had tested positive, comprising 65% of the population housed in prison, as well as 20 staff and officers (Bruch 2020). In Manitoba, at Headingley Correction Centre, 86 incarcerated persons and 24 staff and correctional officers had tested positive as of 3 November 2020 (Unger 2020). Administrators, advocates, and journalists continue to report outbreaks across the country, including at institutions such as the Saskatoon Correctional Centre and Grand Valley Institution (CBC News 2020; Ghonaim 2020). In Canadian federal penitentiaries, some facilities reported outbreaks in the early months after the virus first spread to Canada (i.e., Mission Institution in British Columbia and the Multi-level Federal Training Centre in Quebec, or more recently in Stoney Mountain Institution), with additional outbreaks following during wave two of the pandemic.
As we step out in these new and unprecedented times, we put forth considerations and associated recommendations that look to the present and future of correctional services in Canada. In doing so, we will focus on (i) recommendations that directly pertain to the current pandemic and how to best address COVID-19 related concerns in correctional systems, yet (ii) also make recommendations for people working and housed in prison now and beyond the pandemic. In the current policy brief, we provide evidence-informed recommendations for correctional services across systems in four key areas:
decarceration;
the needs for those remaining in our institutions, albeit working, living, visiting or volunteering;
Indigenous persons in prison; and
the needs of community corrections to support current parole/probation as well as future decarceration efforts.
Context and histories of criminalized persons in Canada
Canada houses individuals charged or convicted of crimes in one of fourteen unique but interconnected correctional systems: (i) the federal system known as the CSC or (ii) one of 13 different provincial and territorial systems, each governed by their own provincial or territorial Ministry or Department overseeing correctional services (e.g., Justice, Public Safety). The main difference between the federal and provincial–territorial systems is sentence duration and remand status (e.g., persons housed in prison awaiting trial or sentencing). CSC houses individuals convicted of a crime and sentenced to two or more years in prison, in institutions of diverse security classification that range from minimum (e.g., no secure perimeter) to maximum (e.g., very secure parameter) (Ricciardelli 2014b). In 2015–2016, correctional institutions in Canada housed an average of approximately 40 000 adults per day, representing a national incarceration rate of 139 per 100 000 individuals (Reitano 2017). People housed in federal institutions account for a smaller number of incarcerated persons in comparison to the provincial and territorial systems, for instance in 2017–2018 “on a typical day” 14 015 individuals were housed in one of over 50 federal penitentiaries (Correctional Service Canada 2019). Generally, after serving one-third of a federal sentence, a federally incarcerated person may be eligible for parole or for statuary release after serving two-thirds of their sentence.
The provincial and territorial correctional systems house the majority of incarcerated persons in Canada. Collectively, they oversee appropriately 177 closed-custody institutions (e.g., prisons, correctional centres, and jails) that confine individuals who are either sentenced to a prison term of two years less one day or remanded into custody. Since 2004–2005, remanded people constituted the majority of the provincial and territorial custodial population (Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union February 9, 2012; Porter and Calverley 2011; Statistics Canada 2017b). For example, on an “average day” in 2014–2015, more adults were housed in prison awaiting trial than convicted individuals serving a sentence in custody. Specifically, in the provincial and territorial systems, of the 24 014 adults per day on average in sentenced custody and pretrial detention, 13 650 (57%) were incarcerated pretrial (Statistics Canada 2017b). Remand facilities housing incarcerated persons (i.e., jails, detention centres, and correctional centres) operate as maximum-security institutions. Although individuals remanded into custody are legally presumed innocent, they are held awaiting trial in custody, rather than the community, because they are unable to secure bail either for being considered a flight risk, a threat to the public in terms of posing a substantial likelihood to offend, or otherwise unable to satisfy basic bail requirements (e.g., lacking a surety) (Deshman and Myers 2014). After serving a portion of their sentence in custody, provincially and territorially sentenced individuals are eligible for probation.
The overwhelming majority of people enter prison with some degree of vulnerability. Incarcerated persons are likely to lack employment experience and educational attainment and often suffer from compromised mental health or challenges with substance misuse or addiction. Many incarcerated people have experienced periods of homelessness in their lives and the vast majority have experienced childhood trauma in the form of physical and sexual abuse (Bucerius et al. 2020a) and changing caregiver situations (Bucerius 2020). At the provincial level, Bucerius et al. (2020b) found that 88% of male participants and 84% of female participants identified having experienced violent victimization (e.g., hitting, getting beaten up, had weapons used against them, etc.) at some point in their lives, with a mean age of the first violent victimization that male participants could recall being 14 years, and female participants 17 years of age. In total, 34% of their male participants had experienced some form of sexual victimization (e.g., unwanted touching and sexual assault) during their lives, with a mean age of first sexual victimization for men being 7.4 years old. In total, 75% of the female sample had experienced sexual victimization, with the first victimization occurring at an average age of 9.9 years old. At the federal level, these numbers are even higher, with the great majority having experienced physical and (or) sexual abuse long before being first charged with a crime (95% of all federally sentenced women and 87% of all federally sentenced men) (Bucerius 2020). These data reflect that people housed in prison experience victimization at much higher rates than the general population in Canada. Data from the General Social Survey (GSS) (N = 33 089) reported that 32.8% of Canadian men and 22.9% of Canadian women had experienced violent victimization before the age of 15. In terms of sexual victimization, 4.6% of Canadian men and 13.2% of Canadian women have been sexually victimized prior to the age of 15 (Statistics Canada 2016).
People housed in prison are also at a disadvantage when it comes to educational attainment. At the federal level, CSC reports that between 1995 and 2005, eight in every 10 persons admitted to federal custody did not have a high school diploma. Moreover, upwards of 20% of new federal admissions had less than a grade eight education (Boe 2005). The statistics are in dramatic contrast to 14% of the Canadian population aged 25 or older who, in 2016, reported less than a high school diploma as their highest educational level (Uppal 2017). Beyond entering prison under-educated, periods of incarceration severely limit a person’s ability to develop a history of employment or to develop marketable skills that would support later reintegration (Graffam et al. 2004; Atkin and Armstrong 2013). Disadvantages become more pronounced for persons whose first experience of incarceration was during their youth or young adulthood—the period in which invaluable apprenticeship, educational, and training opportunities are highly consequential (Nagin and Waldfogel 1995). Incarcerated persons are more likely to have lower than average levels of literacy and numeracy and to lack job skills, interpersonal skills, social competencies, technological literacy, and prior work experience in comparison to the general population (Waldfogel 1994; Fletcher 2001; Nally et al. 2011; Decker et al. 2014; Young 2017).
Internationally, rates of infectious disease, chronic diseases, and mental health disorders are higher among incarcerated persons than in the general population (Harris et al. 2007;Wilper et al. 2009; Fazel and Baillargeon 2011; Stewart et al. 2014). Simply said, persons enter prison with poor baseline health. In Canada, Beaudette et al. (2015) reported that the lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among men newly admitted to CSC ranged from 78% to 88% across regions and the prevalence of a current mental health disorder among these same men ranged from 68% to 82% (see also Stewart et al. 2017). Yet, in the general Canadian population, diagnosed mental disorder prevalence rates remain around 10% (Statistics Canada 2018). Looking at the prevalence of mental disorders among 154 women incarcerated in six CSC facilities, Brown et al. (2018) found that almost 80% of federally sentenced women in custody “meet the criteria for a current mental disorder, including high rates of alcohol and substance use, antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder” (p. iii). In addition, almost two-thirds of their sample reported a major mental disorder over their lifetime and 17% a current major mental disorder.
Formerly incarcerated persons, in comparison to the general population, are more likely to have mental health needs, ranging from substance dependence to neurological or psychiatric needs to broader health issues (e.g., poor diet and smoking) (Graffam et al. 2004). Drawing from a sample of 2273 newly admitted adult male federally incarcerated persons in Canada, Stewart et al. (2014) determined that these men most commonly report the health conditions of head injury (34.1%), asthma (14.7%), and back pain (19.3%). Nolan and Stewart (2014) found that the most common cited health concerns among 280 newly admitted adult women incarcerated persons included back pain (26%), head injury (23%), hepatitis C virus (19%), and asthma (16%). Overall, incarcerated people tend to enter prison in already poor health and are met with in-prison health care and nutrition that requires careful evaluation to ensure that health conditions improve or, at least, do not worsen.
Decarceration
Many provincial and territorial prisons are currently housing fewer people in an effort to reduce prison populations during the COVID-19 pandemic (CBC News 2020; Cousins 2020; Statistics Canada 2020a). Organizational responses also include early release and reducing arrests, jail bookings, and admissions (also tied to temporary court closures or delays). We define decarceration as alternatives to incarceration, such as serving sentences in the community rather than in prison, as well as the premature conclusion of a criminal sentence, and the aggregate reduction in the prison population. Decarceration efforts have been rarer at the federal level (see, for example, Quan 2020), where incarcerated persons are serving longer sentences and have more distant eligibility dates for statuary release (i.e., incarcerated persons are eligible after serving two-thirds of a federal sentence) or parole (i.e., eligibility commences after servicing one third of a federal sentence).
Decarceration is increasingly necessary, especially during the current pandemic. Imprisonment is an expensive and often ineffective means of dealing with crime and public safety, and generally damages the well-being and life chances of those who are subjected to it, such as by severing ties to family members and employment opportunities. Imprisonment also has well-documented collateral consequences, such as how incarceration affects the children of people who are incarcerated (Murray and Farrington 2008; Turney and Wildeman 2013; Wakefield and Wildeman 2013). The link between crime and imprisonment is highly complex, meaning that changes in imprisonment rates are generally thought to have relatively little impact on rates of crime (see, for example, DeFina and Arvanites 2002; Carter 2003). In countries—such as Finland—where deliberate efforts have been made to reduce their prison populations, the evidence does not suggest an associated increase in crime rates (Lappi-Seppälä 2009).
The nature, scope, and structure of decarceration must take into account the circumstances, positioning, and needs of the incarcerated people—particularly in relation to their own safety and well-being, while balancing this with public safety. Decarceration efforts must be geared toward meeting the needs of incarcerated people (i.e., does the person who transgressed the law, even if 10, 15, or even 20 years ago, present the same threat to public safety today? What about months or weeks later post-offense?), the seriousness of the offense and potentiality for recidivism or desistance from crime, and their security classifications within the system. Providing individuals with the community supports and services that would allow them to be released and re-enter the community in a safe and humane way (e.g., ensuring that individuals have access to safe housing options, crisis counselling, etc.) seems like the “better” option than continued imprisonment.
To this end, any release planning must be informed by an individual’s history and their own views of their life, past and present, and future plans; in other words, release planning must be desistance focused. In addition, the process of releasing a person from prison must realistically assess the threat posed by the person to society and the threat society poses to the person who is being released. Considering personal safety measures and processes of rehabilitation or recovery at play in prison, care and safe housing must be assured before releasing a person during COVID-19, as should the continuation of any rehabilitative interventions from which individuals feel they are deriving benefit. The resting assumption that everyone housed in prison prefers release may ignore the individual’s perspective as researchers have demonstrated that prison can—tragically—serve as a space of temporary refuge for some incarcerated people (Bucerius et al. 2020a; Pyrooz et al. 2020). Improving the quality of various forms of welfare provision within society (e.g., housing, mental health services, refuges for victims of abuse, and drug detoxification) would reduce the likelihood of citizens regarding prisons as more positive environments than the free community. To this end, effort should be made to provide individuals with the community supports and services that would allow them to be released and re-enter the community in a safe and humane way, so that people are not put in a position where the prison seems like the “better” option.
To facilitate decarceration at all levels of the prison system, stakeholders and administrators must assess and critically examine the decarceration of halfway houses and other temporary housing spaces. Governments must closely examine the cases of those living in such facilities, recognizing who may be psychologically, socially, and physically ready for complete and successful reintegration into the community (i.e., to leave the halfway house). The release of incarcerated persons from halfway houses frees up existing space in halfway houses for persons leaving prison.
Decarceration, however, “is a process, not a one-time action” (Wang et al. 2020, pp. S-3). To this end, our recommendations include immediate actions geared toward decarceration and, given the uncertain nature of the pandemic and its duration, longer-term actions for implementation. We also advocate for equity in decarceration efforts, referring specifically to ensuring all people inside prisons are considered for early release. Equity is particularly important in relation to incarcerated Indigenous Peoples, who are disadvantaged at every stage of the criminal justice system, including when it comes to parole decisions and re-entry (Cardoso November 29 2020).
Recommendations for decarceration across systems
1. Review the release status of all persons housed in prison, remanded or sentenced, both provincially–territorially and federally, in a fair and equitable manner that accounts for personal and criminal histories, for the purpose of releasing prisoners. We recommend that stakeholders apply a culturally informed lens, that includes but is not limited to histories of racial inequalities, to understand individual actions within the context of a person’s actual potential for successful release. When re-evaluating the release status, the guiding question should be whether the person can safely be reintegrated and will likely not pose harm to the broader community.
a. In a fair and equitable way, re-evaluate the release status of persons close to or already eligible for parole or probation, particularly during COVID-19 as each comes closer to their eligibility date for statutory release to potentially expedite their release.
b. Review opportunities to release people for compassionate reasons (e.g., age, cognitive impairment, and family circumstances) or based on health care needs (e.g., chronic health conditions like autoimmune disease, pregnancy, obesity, respiratory challenges, terminal illness, cancer) particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic but also beyond.
2. Prior to release, create and feasibly put in place (in collaboration with outside agencies) realistic and comprehensive reintegration plans that account for the requirements associated with COVID-19 (e.g., quarantine, physical distancing), customized to address the unique needs of the individual.
3. Incarcerated persons must have agency in their early release, including in their ability to remain incarcerated if they do not feel they have a safe alternative to continued incarceration (such as returning to an abusive household or homelessness). Thus, we strongly recommend prioritizing the provision of safe and humane alternatives to imprisonment in the community.
4. Pursue efforts to decarcerate half-way houses (e.g., open custody facilities), particularly, the movement of persons who are ready for the transition into full community living.5.Prior to the release of any person, the individual should be tested and offered the opportunity for a COVID-19 vaccination and, if necessary, they should be provided with a safe space to quarantine in the community for 14 days to prevent the spread of infection and preserve the coordinated housing’s retention.
Decarceration in provincial and territorial systems specifically.
Prior to COVID-19, more individuals were held in pretrial detention than released on bail (Malakieh 2018; Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union 2012); these remanded persons include those accused of serious and violent crimes, as well as persons arrested for comparatively minor offences (e.g., property crime, impaired driving). Researchers criticize the extent to which remand is used; particularly in light of the evidence that remand custody has little benefit for public safety (Webster et al. 2009).
Remand centres are often used as holding cells for those charged with transgressing the law, for instance, breaching conditions (e.g., being late for curfew, failing to call from a landline) or being unable to pay outstanding fines. Creating alternative punishments for minor offenses provides additional opportunities for decarceration. Decreasing the number of people going in and out of remand facilities will also decrease the possibility of contracting and spreading COVID-19 (Reinhart and Chen 2020). Moreover, is it necessary to confine people prior to their first court appearance or can safe alternatives prevail? The use of facilities as holding cells contributes to the high turnover among incarcerated people in institutions, increasing the threat of infection and opportunities for COVID-19 to be introduced into the institution. We caveat, however, that some incarcerated persons may require holding for a variety of reasons, including being a threat to self or others and to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice, among other factors (see s515 (10) of the Criminal Code of Canada). These factors require careful consideration but also present opportunities for change in the overarching systems of justice.
Intermittently sentenced persons are those who serve their sentence on weekends, often maintaining employment and community living during the week. Intermittent sentencing increases opportunities for individuals to introduce COVID-19 into correctional facilities. Most provinces and territories suspended intermittent sentences with the onset of COVID-19, but, we ask, is there a need to continue the practice of intermittent sentencing post-COVID-19? If intermittently sentenced persons are safe to live in the community during the week, could there be alternatives that do not require incarceration?
Opportunities for decarceration are seemingly more widespread and versatile in the provincial and territorial systems in comparison to the federal system. Now is the time to consider if prison should house all persons remanded into custody and ponder if most remanded persons can be safely released into the community (again, using the guiding question whether the person would pose a threat to community safety), and review the circumstances that resulted in each individual’s remand status.
Recommendations at the provincial and territorial level
6. When possible, safely reduce the use of prisons as holding cells for persons charged or arrested awaiting their first court appearance.
7. When dealing with people accused of nonviolent crimes, reconsider custodial sentencing, as incarceration is likely unnecessary for public safety in those situations.
8. Eliminate the practice of intermittent sentencing. Intermittently sentenced individuals can safely live in and contribute to society during the week. Consider alternatives (e.g., house arrest) to weekend sentencing.
Needs for those remaining in institutional correctional services
Prior to the pandemic, correctional institutions across jurisdictions suffered from overcrowding, leaving incarcerated people confined in close proximity. Double- and even triple-bunking has been a longstanding practice in Canada, particularly at the provincial–territorial level (Piché 2014). Before COVID-19, administrators often used lockdowns to punish misconduct and regain control of prison units. In the context of COVID-19, lockdowns are a strategy to prevent the spread of the virus by limiting the movement of prisoners. Incarcerated people are held in their cells for upwards of 22–23.5 h each day, a situation that profoundly limits their privacy and has significant impacts on their mental health (Grassian 2006; Arrigo and Bullock 2008; Haney 2018a, 2018b). The suspension of in-person visitations further alienates and isolates incarcerated persons. Many institutions have also suspended programming for incarcerated people (e.g., schooling, recreational activities) to prevent program staff and volunteers from entering the facilities and potentially spreading the virus.
Decarceration reduces the challenges associated with lockdowns and overcrowding. Decreasing prison populations reduces overcrowding and the need for double-bunking. It also allows for greater physical distancing among incarcerated persons and, for individuals who remain in prison, greater access to services, resources, and programming, including educational and vocational programs. There is good reason, therefore, for believing that prisons are more effective when there are fewer people in them, as well as when their overall “moral quality” is high (Auty and Liebling 2020). Those who remain in prison will have more opportunities to focus on their health and well-being, and develop life skills, as long as programming resumes or continues amidst the pandemic, potentially through alternative means of program delivery. Research demonstrates that imprisoned people desire programming they find beneficial for self-betterment, recovery, and re-entry success (Ricciardelli 2014b; Ricciardelli and Mooney 2017).
Additionally, maintaining social networks is extremely difficult for people housed in prison (Austin and Hardyman 2004). Social networks serve as support systems for successful re-entry (including social and employment re-entry supports), and losing one’s social network can have detrimental effects on imprisoned persons’ well-being and their re-entry success (Lin 2001; Berg and Huebner 2011; Wright and Cesar 2013) (as also discussed in our section on decarceration). Reducing the prison population through decarcerating means that there is more space to move people around the prison system (including locating incarcerated persons closer to their families and social networks), and we anticipate a reduced need for lockdowns as fewer numbers of people interacting may reduce conflict between the prison and staff populations. Fewer lockdowns will also allow those remaining in prison to be in contact with their social networks outside of prison and have social interactions inside of prison.
As correctional services cannot safety release all incarcerated people into the community, we make several recommendations specific to those individuals and the staff that continues to care for them.
Recommendations for persons living in prison.
1. Introduce COVID-19 rapid testing for newly admitted imprisoned people and use quarantine measures until they produce a negative test result. Reducing prison populations also creates more space for self-isolation when quarantine is necessary.
2. Introduce daily regular screening that includes self-reports symptoms and temperature checks for all incarcerated persons.
3. Ensure rapid testing and contact tracing measures are implemented to track the spread of COVID-19 among prisoners and staff, including daily or routine screening of persons working in prison to mitigate the spread of COVID-19
4. Create prison and staff cohorts to minimize the spread of COVID-19 across units, wings, and facilities. Similar to the preventative measures in the community, testing anyone showing signs of illness and anyone close to those who have shown signs of illness (staff and incarcerated persons) is necessary as well as the practice of quarantine until the production of a negative test result.
5. Assess optimal population and staff–officer counts for each institution to ensure physical distancing and the safe adherence to public health guidelines during the pandemic without resorting to lockdowns.
6. Ensure incarcerated individuals and staff–officers are among the first groups of individuals living in congregate settings to be vaccinated in Canada.
Mental health issues also affect staff and officers, with correctional workers screening positive for mental disorders at rates nearly four times those in the general population (those employed in ALL systems of corrections and at all levels of occupations) (Carleton et al. 2018a; 2018b; Carleton et al. 2020; Ricciardelli et al. 2019). We anticipate that correctional worker mental health needs will only be exacerbated by the pandemic, especially when incarcerated persons or co-workers experience death or illness due to COVID-19. Moreover, concerns remain about the potential for staff and officers to bring COVID-19 home to their families or into the institution, which only further compromises well-being.
Recommendations for persons working in prison
7.Encourage the use of sick days and paid leave for staff and officers who screen or test positive for COVID-19.
8. Clearly enforce the rules around COVID safeguards among all staff, contractors, and management, as well as anyone entering institutions to further limit the spread of COVID-19.
9. Support the well-being of institutional correctional staff, essential service providers during COVID-19, who require resources to support their mental, physical, and social health both preventatively and reactively.
Recommendations with respect to mental health
As decarceration opens up the possibility to make additional, crucial changes to correctional services, we want to draw particular attention to mental health services that are currently lacking in most institutions. Recent research (Bucerius et al. 2020a) reveals nearly all incarcerated persons have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with victimization, family dysfunction, witnessing domestic violence, growing up with family members who have substance abuse disorders, childhood neglect, foster care and residential school experiences, and physical and sexual abuse. Scholars who have examined the consequences of ACEs find individuals with ACEs have a higher likelihood than the general population of drug use and addiction (Dube et al. 2003) as well as infections and mental health disorders and of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour (Felitti and Anda 2010). Further, those who experience four or more ACEs are at greater risk of heart disease, cancer, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, and are more likely to become involved in crime and be incarcerated later in life (Felitti et al. 1998; Felitti and Anda 2010; Schilling et al. 2008; Danese and McEwen 2012).
While internationally well-documented, recent Canadian researchers show the majority of people housed in prison have experienced physical and (or) sexual abuse long before being first charged with a crime; 95% of all federally sentenced women and 87% of all federally sentenced men have experienced either physical or sexual victimization, or both (Bucerius 2020). When looking at physical and sexual victimization separately, 84% of federally sentenced women were sexually victimized throughout their life-course, while 90% were physically victimized. In the male population, 48% were sexually victimized and 79% physically victimized, with significantly higher numbers in the Indigenous population (71% of Indigenous men housed in prison had experienced sexual victimization, and 86% had experienced physical victimization). The great majority experience both childhood abuse and abuse throughout their life course. Simultaneously, the great majority of the Canadian prison population struggles with substance abuse issues (Kouyoumdjian et al. 2016). These experiences have significant influence on the mental, social, and physical health of incarcerated people.
Recommendation for those living in prison
10. Provide trauma counselling and trauma-informed programming for imprisoned persons to address the root causes for their struggles—see our recommendations in the section on Indigenous people housed in prison—particularly given the potential exacerbating effects of COVID-19.
11. Provide sustained addiction counselling.a.Allow psychiatrists and psychologists from the community to assist in diagnostics. Incarcerated persons who receive diagnosis and appropriate counselling and medication have a better chance to work towards success in release, which may be accelerated during COVID-19.
12. For correctional workers, provide sustained trauma informed training that provides insights into the background of the incarcerated persons they are dealing with on a daily basis.
a. We recommend looking at the compassion series the Edmonton Police Service have developed. However, we caveat that this training tool has yet to be evaluated.
13. Mental health support is necessary for correctional workers during and beyond the pandemic.
Apart from decarceration efforts, correctional services must clearly inform staff, incarcerated persons, and their loved ones of protocols for managing COVID-19, including policies around properly isolating exposed correctional workers and incarcerated persons, as well as preventing exposure to COVID-19 in prisons. Sharing information with families of incarcerated persons and staff is particularly valuable given the current pandemic. However, when coupled with, although necessary, restrictive policies and practices inside prisons and around visitations, information sharing has resulted in loved ones experiencing increased stress and anxiety about the health and well-being of their incarcerated kin. For example, loved ones of incarcerated people often do not know whether their incarcerated family members are safe and healthy when a lockdown occurs.
Recommendations with respect to communication
14. Prison administrations must clearly inform staff of any policy developments and changes in directives before implementation. Implementation science research shows that any policy changes can only be successfully carried out when having support from the population who will be responsible for putting them into practice (Dramschroder and Hagedorn 2011).
15. Transparent communication between staff and loved ones during (and beyond) the pandemic.
a. Allow incarcerated people to inform their loved ones of their well-being in a timely manner.
b. Keep incarcerated persons informed about infections and deaths in the prison, their communities, and the province–territory in which staff live.
c. Inform incarcerated individuals about changes in procedures and about when restrictions may be reduced or increased.
16. Provide people housed in prison with free phone calls; first enforcing a moratorium on phone charges during COVID-19 and second reviewing phone fees toward a long-term solution that makes phone calls more affordable.
a. Consider COVID-19 related free phone calls as a way forward for prison practices more generally, given many families of incarcerated people live far from institutions, which makes regular visits difficult, and researchers show that regular contact with loved ones is vital, even instrumental, for successful reintegration. The same holds true for recommendation number 3.
b. Provide people housed in prison with continuous access to virtual visits during and beyond the pandemic.
17. Introduce rapid testing for visitors to facilitate the continuance of visits during the pandemic.
Indigenous persons in prison
The United Nations (2020) Department of Economic and Social Affairs has urged member states to take pre-emptive steps in addressing the unique needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples while managing the COVID-19 outbreak. Canada’s colonial legacy has led to Indigenous Peoples disproportionately suffering from poorer health and living conditions, making them particularly susceptible during the pandemic (Bourassa 2008; Reading and Wien 2009; Bourassa et al. 2015; Noakes 2018; Gould et al. 2020; Sarangi 2020; Statistics Canada 2017a; Yellowhead Institute 2020). While most Indigenous communities have minimized the spread of COVID-19 by issuing states of emergency, rates of infection for Indigenous Peoples are increasing in places such as Manitoba (Yellowhead Institute 2020). According to the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (2020), Indigenous Peoples make up approximately 9% of Manitoba’s population, yet account for 18% of the province’s COVID-19 cases, 24% of hospitalizations, 35% of patients in intensive care unit beds, and 12% of deaths (Pauls 2020).
The preceding risks are exacerbated in Canada’s prison system, where the Office of the Correctional Service Canada (2019), the United National (2018), and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women (Šimonović 2018) recognize the crisis of overrepresentation of Indigenous persons in prison.
Within criminalized populations, racial disparities have steadily increased over the past 15 years. A 2013 report from the Office of the Correctional Investigator found that from 2003 to 2013, the incarceration rates for people of colour rose by 75%. Incarceration rates for Indigenous Peoples also increased during this period, where they continue to be grossly overrepresented in all federal and territorial–provincial prisons across Canada (Owusu-Bempah and Wortley 2014). A 2020 report found that, over the past decade, the incarceration of non-Indigenous individuals decreased by 14%, while the Indigenous population in prison increased by 43% (Zinger 2020). Indigenous adults account for 28% of admissions to provincial and territorial prisons and 28% of federal admissions, despite representing only 5% of the Canadian adult population.
The overrepresentation of Indigenous people is most pronounced in the prairie region—both in the provincial and the federal correctional systems. For example, while making up only 6.5% of Alberta’s population, Indigenous Peoples represent over 45% of those housed in Alberta’s provincial and federal prisons (on average). Indigenous Peoples are also more likely to be incarcerated at a younger age than non-Indigenous Canadians (Bucerius 2020).
Overrepresentation is even more pronounced for Indigenous women, who make up 4% of the general population, but account for 43% of female admissions nationally (versus 26% for Indigenous men) and over 41% of incarcerated women in federal prisons (Maleakieh 2018; Zinger 2019). Furthermore, the Edmonton Institution for Women (a federal prison for all women sentenced in the prairie region) houses, on average, 65% Indigenous women (Short 2020).
Threading the experiences of incarceration is Canada’s legacy of colonialism, which continues to impact Indigenous people’s health (Bourassa 2008, p. 24). Researchers have pointed to intergenerational trauma, also referred to as transgenerational trauma or historical trauma, as leading to increased substance abuse and violence (Bombay et al. 2009). Intergenerational trauma describes how trauma can be transmitted across generations, as evidenced by how the Sixties Scoops and residential schools have traumatized survivors and continues to affect families. Intergenerational trauma can shape the well-being and lived experiences of Indigenous people, including those housed in prison. The Correctional Investigator, Ivan Zinger (2019) showed that 92% of federally incarcerated Indigenous women suffer from moderate to high substance abuse needs and 97% had a diagnosed mental health disorder. Research in provincial prisons in Alberta demonstrates that incarcerated Indigenous individuals are more likely to have been victims of sexual and violent crime than non-Indigenous incarcerated persons, and are more likely to have been victimized at a younger age when these crimes occurred against them. The disparity is even more pronounced for incarcerated Indigenous women (Bucerius et al. unpublished data). As the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019) suggests, we take a “trauma-informed approach” by incorporating evidence-based knowledge of incarcerated persons’ victimization history into our recommendations (p. 173).
Canada’s legacy of colonialism underpins higher rates of poverty among Indigenous communities, constituting and perpetuating structural inequalities that impact health and access to health care. For instance, among Indigenous Peoples, status First Nation children on reserve and off-reserve experience poverty rates of 53% and 41%, respectively. Moreover, 32% of nonstatus First Nations, 25% of Inuit children, and 22% of Métis children live in poverty (Sarangi 2020). Research strongly suggests that impoverished living conditions can lead to health risks and affect life expectancy (Noakes August 23 2018). Life expectancy estimates illuminate pronounced differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Canada (Statistics Canada 2017a). The life expectancy among non-Indigenous Canadian women is 84 years, contrasting 73 years for Inuit women, 80 years for Métis women, and 78 years for First Nations women (Statistics Canada 2017a). The life expectancy of non-Indigenous Canadian men averages 79 years, contrasting 73 years for First Nations men, and 64 years for Inuit men (Statistics Canada 2017a). Chronic health conditions are also more common among the Indigenous population than non-Indigenous Canadians (Reading and Wien 2009). Bourassa (2008) explained that Indigenous persons are more likely to experience co-morbid health conditions at younger ages (e.g., respiratory illness, diabetes), thus affecting morbidity, which in the context of COVID-19 increases vulnerability to complications from infections.
Nevertheless, for some incarcerated Indigenous individuals, prison is their only or main source of “help” (Bucerius et al. 2020a), citing access to health care, educational and cultural programming, food, and shelter that they otherwise would not have on the outside. Our recommendations account for this understanding of prison by encouraging prison programming and release efforts that involve collaboration with community institutions concerning health, transportation, employment, and culture. Our recommendations also incorporate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s “calls to action” and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ “calls for justice”.
Recommendations regarding Indigenous individuals in the correctional systems
1. Enhance the role and participation of community leaders and Elders in all decision-making regarding Indigenous Peoples in prison, such as how relevant programs and healing lodges ought to be constructed and implemented and can serve as an alternative to prison during COVID-19 and beyond. Currently, reserves and other Indigenous communities are practicing emergency measures that can affect released persons (Yellowhead Institute 2020).
a. If possible, make more Elders and community leaders available to incarcerated persons and have them visit more frequently. During the pandemic, technology such as video visitation can help facilitate interactions.2.Maximize the Gladue factors in all decision making concerning Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice system, which involves minimizing incarceration of Indigenous Peoples during and beyond COVID-19.a.Encourage and maximize use of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, particularly sections 81 and 84.b.Ensure adequate transportation is available to Indigenous Peoples released from prison, such as for those who live in remote communities and reserves.3.Foster a trauma-informed environment. While this recommendation extends to all persons who are incarcerated, it is particularly important for Indigenous Peoples. Trauma-informed initiatives are also foundational to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019, p. 173). Trauma-informed approaches create awareness of the psychological and sociological effects of being victims of sexual and (or) violent crimes that disproportionately and more severely affect Indigenous populations. These approaches incorporate Indigenous teachings around mental and physical healing to create support for those suffering from all forms of unresolved trauma.
a.Include more opportunities for person-centred trauma-informed programs, such as group sessions that address post-traumatic stress, personal and group healing.
b.Ensure that general cultural programming for incarcerated Indigenous individuals is trauma informed to better aid healing and avoid retraumatization, which may involve training program coordinators and designers.
c.Train staff to be person-centred and trauma-informed, drawing attention to how incarcerated Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately and more severely affected by victimization. If possible, involve Indigenous staff members in training processes and explain to staff why cultural and trauma-informed programming for Indigenous persons is necessary.
d.Train or encourage staff to allow for more frequent smudging (led by incarcerated people) and ensure that Indigenous ceremonial materials are always available, such as drums, sweet grass, pipes, and lighters or matches.
e.Create or designate a space a “healing range”, where Indigenous religious and healing practices (such as sweats, smudging, and Elder interaction) can occur.
The following recommendations apply to Indigenous people remaining in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond:
4. Continue to evaluate, update, and develop security classification scales and tools that are sensitive to the nuances of Indigenous backgrounds and realities. For instance, the maximum-security classification disproportionately limits federally sentenced Indigenous women classified at that level from accessing services, supports, and programs required to facilitate their safe and timely re-integration into society.
5. Ensure incarcerated Indigenous Peoples have access to legal services to support and assert their human rights and Indigenous rights.
6. Ensure that all persons involved in the provision of health services to Indigenous Peoples receive ongoing training, education, and awareness in areas including, but not limited to: the history of colonialism in the oppression and genocide of Inuit, Métis, and First Nations Peoples; anti-bias and anti-racism; local language and culture; and local health and healing practices.
Needs of community correctional services to support decarceration
In Canada, the majority of persons under the supervision of correctional services, at the federal or provincial and territorial levels, are living in the community on conditional release (publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/ccrso-2018/index-en.aspx). All formerly incarcerated persons, those undergoing early release or those released on schedule, require a plausible, customized, and fitting reintegration plan. The plan must include considerations tied to needs for housing and daily living, social and employment support, a continuity in health care, and assistance to understand the restrictions tied to conditions of release. When considering the future of community correctional services, we recommend rigorous re-envisioning of the caseloads of community correctional employees, as well as supporting their mental health both preventatively and reactively.
Housing and supports
After prison, individuals require a safe place to live, in terms of the potential spread of COVID-19 as well as for their own personal safety and successful community re-entry. The lack of housing for released persons is an undeniable problem in Canada (Gaetz and O’Grady 2009; Novac et al. 2009). Formerly incarcerated persons may experience additional practical challenges, beyond a lack of housing, such as access to childcare, an inability to pay for public transit, or issues associated with the revocation of their driver’s license (Solomon et al. 2004; Thompson and Cummings 2010; Luther et al. 2011; Hoskins 2014). Prior to their incarceration, formerly incarcerated persons are more likely to have had difficulty fulfilling their basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), thus, following release they will need assistance ( Luther et al. 2011), which may be more difficult because they simultaneously have to meet stipulations tied to their conditions of release (Ricciardelli and Mooney 2017).
Parole conditions, such as landline check-ins, curfews, geographic boundaries, random drug screening, internet use limitations, and case management meetings (to name a few), vary in substance and quantity and can be very difficult to uphold. Formerly incarcerated persons require time to adjust to life outside of prison and, potentially, reconnect with their loved ones (Ricciardelli 2014a; McKendy and Ricciardelli 2019). Released persons might also experience other pressures, such as prematurely entering the labour force to meet their conditions of release (Richards and Jones 2004; Ricciardelli and Mooney 2017). Released persons may have to meet competing appointments, work demands, and school or family obligations, each further hampering re-entry efforts (Kerley and Copes 2004; Ricciardelli and Mooney 2017). In addition, potential breaches of parole conditions create stress and can result in a return to custody (Graffam et al. 2004).
Once released, individuals require effective and legitimate social support, particularly given that periods of incarceration result in an individual’s potential social networks depleting remarkably (Austin and Hardyman 2004). While people on parole or probation can benefit from the social networks that community correctional or halfway house workers can help facilitate, these arrangements end when they complete their conditional release. Typically, formerly incarcerated persons are also not allowed to associate with other people who have a criminal history, which further limits their sources of social support and hinders opportunities to learn from other formerly incarcerated persons how to navigate community re-entry and the systems of community correctional services.
Recommendations for housing and supports for released persons
1. Review and invest in safe and sustainable housing for formerly incarcerated persons.
2. Develop the knowledge and skills necessary for formerly incarcerated persons to meet their basic needs as law-abiding citizens once released from prison—including hands-on applied skill training about how to manage finances, balance budgets that include funds for healthy eating, and managing other tasks of daily living.
3. Consider reliance on community volunteers for the purposes of support, especially for incarcerated persons who may not have a support system on the outside. A formerly incarcerated person as a peer supporter, who has successfully navigated re-entry in the past, is perhaps best equipped to recognize potential barriers to and frustrations with community re-entry and how to overcome them.
a. Support and strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations and other community actors to ensure that incarcerated persons have access to support systems on the outside. The partnerships should already be built prior to release.
4. Review conditions of release on an individual basis to determine if each makes sense or imposes unnecessary restrictions in the time of COVID-19 on formerly incarcerated persons (e.g., landline check-ins).
Employment
Employment constitutes a foundational component of how any individual self-identifies (Harding 2003), thus having employment allows formerly incarcerated persons to disengage with the identity imposed by the label of their criminal record or history of imprisonment (Maruna 2001; Uggen et al. 2005). Securing and maintaining employment is integral to the transition from prison to community living, and securing sustained employment is a key feature of re-entry success (Sampson and Laub 1993; Laub et al. 1998; Uggen 2000; Brazzell and La Vigne 2009). Securing sustained employment can be a struggle for formerly incarcerated persons, and employment opportunities to which formerly incarcerated people can avail tend to be low wage, entry level, without benefits, temporary or seasonal positions, and have limited if any opportunity for future growth, promotion, or skill development (Western 2002; Holzer et al. 2003; Ricciardelli 2014a; Sheppard and Ricciardelli 2020).
In the COVID-19 context, obtaining or maintaining employment is largely unfeasible for many formerly incarcerated and the processes tied to employment (e.g., interviewing, job searches, resume distribution) may pose a higher risk of infection of COVID-19 in areas with outbreaks.
Recommendations regarding employment after incarceration.
5. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, temporarily suspend the condition of seeking and maintaining employment as a condition of release until COVID-19 is under control.
6. Redirect resources into employment re-entry programming and consider transitional programming that assists with employment re-entry starting in prison and extending into the community at and after release.
Continuity in health care
For decarceration efforts to be effective (including the successful community re-entry of released persons), incarcerated persons require a continuation of care as they transition to community living. All released persons must leave prison with a health card, which is currently not the case in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia. In these provinces, those released from prison are without a health card until they are physically in their jurisdiction to apply, thus continuation in care is nearly impossible. In other provinces, such as Manitoba, an incarcerated person can apply for a health card while in prison but will not receive the card until their release. In Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec incarcerated persons can apply and receive the card in anticipation of release. Thus, pockets of great practices exist across the country to facilitate patient-centred and timely discharge planning that allows for a continuation of care but there are also pockets of practice entwined in policy barriers that make continuity in care administratively difficult. For people who are already distrustful of authorities, extremely vulnerable, have trauma experiences, addiction issues, mental health disorders, and brain injuries, a lack of continuity in health care is detrimental. The most “fixable” barrier to care is providing health cards for incarcerated persons prior to release and the provision of health cards is key for addressing structural inequalities in health care. Health card access would also remove the barriers for those requiring disability support (and related planning) upon release.
Additional challenges to the continuity in health care include that, once released, persons housed in Community Correctional Centres are often living in the community under supervision. Incarcerated person in Canada are excluded from the Canada Health Act and not issued a health card. The Canada Heath Act does not exclude those living in the community. Despite this rule, individuals in community correctional centres in Nova Scotia, for example, are not issued provincial health cards or drug benefit cards.
Another barrier stems from the fact that proof of identity is necessary to apply for a health care card. However, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Quebec do not accept prison identification (or a letter and picture from, for instance, Correctional Services Canada) as an attestation to a person’s identity and thus formerly incarcerated persons cannot use said identification to acquire a health card in Canada.
Recommendations for continuity in health care after prison
7. Make it possible for incarcerated persons to apply, prior to release, for a health card in order for correctional services organizations to assist with effective discharge planning (e.g., securing specialist appointments).
8. Make health cards available to individuals housed in community correctional centres—such individuals are not incarcerated and thus are not excluded from the Canada Health Act.
9. Make identification from prison and (or) a letter/photo attesting to the person’s identity sufficient to acquire a health card post-incarceration. Failing to accept prison identification as a valid form of identification for obtaining a health card forces persons to spend more money to get other identification and, consequently, resulting in longer delays and a greater disruption in the continuity of care.Invest in community correctional workers.
For decarceration efforts to be fruitful (including providing the required supports and services for released persons), Canada needs to invest in community correctional employees—essential service providers who never stopped fulfilling their occupational responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent research on probation and parole officers working in the Ontario provincial correctional system reveals prevalence rates of 25.5% for post-traumatic stress disorder and 37.4% for major depressive disorder, with 27.5% of probation and parole officers screening positive for three or more mental health disorders (Carleton et al. 2020). Further, qualitative research reveals that parole and probation officers in Ontario are affected by exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events at work, including secondary or vicarious trauma. Parole and probation officers report that three central organizational stressors strain their ability to perform their occupational responsibilities: paperwork and administrative tasks, insufficient human resources, and workplace relationships and tensions (Norman and Ricciardelli unpublished data). In the federal system, parole officers report exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events, secondary trauma, and extensive caseloads, at times intensified during COVID-19 as parole officers face challenges when working to fulfill their obligations toward their clients (Norman and Ricciardelli 2021).
Recommendations for community correctional workers
10. Community correctional services employees need to have resources available to support their mental health needs; particularly in the context of being an essential service provider during COVID-19.
11. Employees will benefit from preventative, intervening, and reactive measures to support their mental health and well-being and ultimately help them to fulfill their occupational responsibilities.
Researchers show that more job instability can lead to higher arrest rates (Sampson and Laub 1993) and that increases in wages (or legitimate means of earning money) correlates to decreases in crime (Western and Pettit 2000; Uggen and Thompson 2003).
Summary
Our suggestions for responding to the current COVID-19 crisis also create space for rethinking some aspects of incarceration more broadly, both in Canada and abroad. We suggest policymakers, stakeholders, and others reconsider whether sentences are appropriate, if all persons in prison need to be there, and if some incarcerated individuals can be safely reintegrated. Particularly, we recommend officials consider releasing incarcerated persons who pose minimal risk to re-offend. Officials need to contemplate how else we can reduce overcrowding—without building larger prisons, which are antithetical to the aims of decarceration. Additional pressing questions that need to be addressed include how to promote family unification beyond free phone and video calls and how to assist incarcerated people to maintain positive and healthy connections in the community. We urge governments and policymakers to consider these questions and evaluate possibilities for informed and structured decarceration and alternatives to imprisonment for those incarcerated persons who can safely live in the community. The COVID-19 crisis is an opportunity to rethink old practices and reform on a broad scale.
- Rosemary Ricciardelli, Sandra Bucerius, Justin Tetrault, Ben Crewe, and David Pyrooz, “Correctional services during and beyond COVID-19.” FACETS, Volume 6, issue 1, 8 April 2021.
#covid19#coronavirus pandemic#coronapolitics#correctional service of canada#decarceration#health care in prison#epidemic histories#anti-pandemic acts#indigenous people#anti-indigenous racism#provincial prisons#remand centres#crime and punishment in canada#academic research#academic quote
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