Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Policing

Recommendation 142: Ensure that that all policing practices conform to the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Policing

Recommendation 143: All police forces should implement Sex Work Enforcement Guidelines similar to those in Vancouver that support the safety of sex workers in police interactions.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Policing

Recommendation 145: Make it easier to file a police complaint and establish an independent civilian watchdog that conducts investigations of reported incidents of serious police misconduct, including allegations of police violence and sexual assault. Increase liability for the misconduct of police officers to include criminal charges.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Policing

Recommendation 146: Allow the provincial Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to initiate its own systemic investigations or hearings, and shift investigations of misconduct within the jurisdiction of the Police Complaint Commissioner to investigations directly by the Commissioner.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Policing

Recommendation 147: Implement existing recommendations by Human Rights Watch in Those Who Take Us Away: Abusive Policing and Failures in Protection of Indigenous Women and Girls in Northern British Columbia, Canada.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Legal and judicial reform

Recommendation 148: End the counter-charging and criminalization of Indigenous women who defend themselves or their children from abuse and violence.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Legal and judicial reform

Recommendation 149: Repeal all mandatory minimum prison sentences for non-violent offences. Implement legislation to allow trial judges to depart from mandatory minimum sentences and restrictions on the use of conditional sentences.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Legal and judicial reform

Recommendation 157: Legislation should require Gladue factors to be used as mitigating factors only, unless the victim is an Indigenous woman in which case her wishes should take precedence over an offender.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Access to justice

Recommendation 158: All levels of government must commit to using non-incarceration measures especially for poverty-related minor offenses. Governments must also provide sufficient and stable funding to Indigenous communities and organizations to provide alternatives to incarceration including community-based rehabilitation, diversion, community courts, and restorative justice methods geared towards Indigenous women.

Recommendations to end criminalization of Indigenous women in the DTES

Access to justice

Recommendation 159: Fund an Indigenous legal clinic in the DTES that can support Indigenous women in all legal matters and provide regular legal education workshops.