Transforming the Criminal Justice System: Indigenous Over-representation - Jorgina

Summary

Jorgina Sunn, a survivor of both the Canadian justice and child welfare systems, recounts her family's struggle with the residential school's aftermath, leading to foster care and abuse. She describes the lack of support and understanding within the system, which contributed to her addiction and criminal activities. Highlighting the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in prisons, she advocates for healing centers over punitive measures. The video calls for a transformation of the justice system to address these issues and invites viewers to join the discussion on justicetransformation.ca.

Takeaways

• 🏡 Jorgina Sunn is a survivor of both the Canadian justice system and the Child Welfare System, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous people.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The impact of residential schools on Indigenous families extends across generations, affecting not only the survivors but also their children and siblings.
• 🔒 Indigenous adults are significantly overrepresented in Canadian federal custody, making up 26% of the adult prison population despite being only 4.1% of the total adult population.
• 🌱 The lack of love, nurturing, and safety in foster homes contributes to the development of low self-worth and fear among Indigenous children.
• 💔 The cycle of abuse, addiction, and imprisonment is a harsh reality for many Indigenous individuals, perpetuating a cycle of trauma and dysfunction.
• 🔄 The current approach to justice for Indigenous people is flawed, with a focus on punishment rather than understanding the root causes of their actions.
• 🏢 The overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice system is a topic of growing conversation, indicating a need for systemic change.
• 🛠 STR8 UP is an organization that works towards rehabilitation and liberation from criminal lifestyles, suggesting alternative approaches to dealing with crime.
• 🌟 There is a call for more places of healing and a better understanding of trauma and dysfunction as part of the solution to the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the justice system.
• 🔗 The script invites viewers to join an online discussion and share ideas on how to transform Canada's criminal justice system to better address Indigenous over-representation.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Jorgina Sunn's story?

The main theme of Jorgina Sunn's story is the struggle and survival within the Canadian justice and child welfare systems, highlighting the impact of intergenerational trauma and the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.

What challenges did Jorgina's parents face that affected her childhood?

Jorgina's parents were survivors of the residential school system, which impacted their lives negatively, leading to Jorgina and her siblings being placed in various foster homes where they experienced different forms of abuse.

What types of abuse did Jorgina endure in foster homes?

Jorgina experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse in foster homes, which contributed to her feelings of deprivation, lack of self-worth, and fear.

How did Jorgina's upbringing lead to her involvement with substance abuse and the law?

The lack of love, nurturing, and safety in her childhood, along with the abuse she suffered, led to a lack of self-worth and identity, which manifested in Jorgina's addiction to crack-cocaine and alcoholism, and involvement in abusive relationships and criminal activities.

What is the percentage of Indigenous adults in federal custody compared to the total Canadian adult population?

Indigenous adults represent 4.1% of the total Canadian adult population but make up 26% of adults in federal custody.

What is the perception of Aboriginal people within the justice system according to Jorgina's experience?

According to Jorgina, being Aboriginal often means being perceived as a lesser person within the justice system, which treats them as such.

What is the role of STR8 UP in assisting individuals like Jorgina?

STR8 UP is a grassroots organization that helps individuals liberate themselves from gangs and criminal lifestyles, assisting them in mastering their own destiny.

What does Jorgina suggest as an alternative to the current punitive approach in the justice system?

Jorgina suggests that more places of healing and a better understanding of trauma and dysfunction are needed instead of punishment, which she believes is not working.

What is the percentage of Indigenous youth in provincial or territorial jail compared to the general youth population?

Indigenous youth make up 39% of youth in provincial or territorial jail.

What is the call to action presented in the script for addressing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice system?

The script calls for an online discussion and ideas on how to transform Canada’s criminal justice system to better address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people.

What is the website provided for learning more about justice transformation in Canada?

The website provided for learning more about justice transformation in Canada is justicetransformation.ca.