Corrections (Just Relations)

Background

The Saskatchewan government established a provincial funding strategy to combat organized criminal activities related to youth gangs.  To date, the funding strategy is to increase police officers in urban centers, creating a gang member database, cracking down on drugs and gangs in the correctional system, and providing free home security devices and home safety audits to low-income seniors.

Most young people involved with gangs and the criminal justice system are First Nations, and the challenge was to look at the provincial funding strategy as an opportunity to create an innovative solution and a proposal in which First Nations can take ownership of the gang issue.  The proposal, submitted to the provincial government in September 2008, had been fully researched in respect to best practices and programming to effect change in the lives of youth, families and communities.

Objective
 
The objective of the Corrections office is to analyse and develop policy in the area of corrections and to integrate the corrections area with all other aspects of justice; to coordinate corrections strategies with First Nation and Government stakeholders; and to evaluate the implementation of corrections strategies at the community level.
 
The Corrections Office will assist in developing First Nation policies that define the role and responsibilities of communities in the corrections and reintegration process. This work is completed in collaboration with First Nations and Grand/Tribal Councils, and with stakeholders of the Federal and Provincial governments.