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Offenders
have significantly lower literacy skills than the general population.
As many as 75% of Canadian
inmates have low literacy skills. Thirty-six percent of offenders have
not completed grade nine. According to the Correctional Service of Canada,
the average education level of newly admitted offenders, serving two years
or more, is grade seven. These realities can contribute to a person’s
chances of incarceration in the first place. Without addressing the root
causes, the possibility of rehabilitation is also seriously hindered. |
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Literacy
is crucial to ensuring equal access to justice. Accused persons, witnesses and victims with low literacy skills
may not have equal access to justice. The text and process surrounding
the legal system from arrest to sentencing can be complex and alienating
to anyone and especially to those who have low literacy skills. Literacy
barriers can affect both the process and the outcome, often discriminating
against those who are less literate. Court efficiency and effectiveness
are reduced when literacy issues are not recognized and addressed. |
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Literacy
training and adult basic education in prisons. Studies show that prisoners who participate in prison-based
education are less likely to re-offend. Every dollar allocated to vocational
and basic education programs for offenders yields a 200-300% return on
investment. Prison literacy and education programs help to provide inmates
with a second chance. |
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Investing
in literacy is an effective crime prevention strategy. Early prevention strategies that include literacy
can help to reduce risk factors such as poverty, unemployment and isolation
that can lead to crime. Early literacy and family literacy programs are
an integral part of any crime prevention and safer community strategy. |
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What can be done?
- Support and fund prison-based
education programs to ensure incarcerated individuals are able to
attain a grade 12 equivalent.
- Develop partnerships among
justice advocates, legal professionals, literacy organizations and
government departments to research literacy
levels and needs, and create appropriate initiatives.
- Ensure that families and
youth “at-risk,” especially
children in the custody of the state, are provided with interventions
such as early literacy and remedial schooling.
- Provide consistent and
accessible supports to children, families, and adults who have learning
disabilities.
- Promote plain language
in the legal process to ensure fair and effective functioning of
the courts.
Provide assessment and referral to literacy programs especially for
the 50% of inmates who serve short prison sentences (40 days or less).
Ensure that follow-up and support are available so that they can continue
literacy training. |
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Suggested Literacy
and Criminal Justice Resources
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John
Howard Society of Canada (JHSC) is an organization of provincial
and territorial Societies whose goal is to understand and respond to
problems of crime and the criminal justice system. Its activities include
advocacy, research, community education, coalition-building and resource
development. JHSC has done a number of projects related to literacy and
crime, resulting in some excellent materials which are available on the
website. They produced Literacy and the Courts: Protecting the Right
to Understand in 1996. Local and provincial John Howard societies have
also developed a range of literacy materials and services. Contact Graham
Stewart, Executive Director of JHSC. Address: 809 Blackburn Mews, Kingston,
ON K7P 2N6. Tel: 613-384-6272 national@johnhoward.ca website at: www.johnhoward.ca. |
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John
Howard Society of BC is an association of 9 regional societies
operating in 15 communities throughout the province. The society offers
a wide range of programs and activities for adults and youths involved
in conflict with the law. Contact: David Johnson, Executive Director
2675 Bridge Street, Victoria, BC V8T 4Y4. Tel: 250-386-3428, Email: jhs@johnhoward.victoria.bc.ca,
Web site: http://www.johnhoward.bc.ca/ |
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Canadian
Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) is a federation
of autonomous societies that work with, and on behalf of women involved
with the justice system, particularly women in conflict with the law.
Elizabeth Fry Societies are community-based agencies dedicated to offering
services and programs to marginalized women, promoting public understanding
of the needs of women in conflict with the law and the need for change
in the criminal justice system as it affects women. Like the John Howard
Society, CAEFS has done literacy research at the national level, and
local E. Fry Societies do a variety of literacy-related work with the
users of their services. Contact: 701-151 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON K1P
5H3, tel: 613-238-2422, fax: 613-232-7130 e-mail: caefs@web.ca, website:
www.elizabethfry.ca. |
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Correctional
Services Canada can be contacted at: tel: 613-992-5891 or www.csc-scc.gc.ca. |
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Corrections
BC – www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/corrections/ |
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National
Associations Active in Criminal Justice (NAACJ) is a coalition
of 21 national and professional organizations with backgrounds in community
living, adult education, and rehabilitation of young and adult offenders.
All are involved in developing social responsibility models to help build
a safer, healthier and more caring society. Produced an awareness kit
called Between the Lines (1997). Tel: 613-761-1032 or on-line www.naacj.org |
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Opening minds
behind closed doors: literacy in B.C. corrections: a research report. Prepared by Audrey M. Thomas for the John Howard Society of British
Columbia. 1992 |
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Inside
out [kit]: a teacher's guide to corrections and conditional release.
A test of justice by Corrections Canada, et al. 1999 |
Literacy
BC gratefully acknowledges the support of Movement for Canadian Literacy
(MCL) (www.literacy.ca) in the development
of this fact sheet. |
