Canada’s Department of Justice has announced the publication of an external Steering Group report in support of the development of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy. Canada’s Black Justice Strategy aims to “address the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system, including as victims of crime.” A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy is informed by Steering Group led discussions held between March 2023 and February 2024.

Key areas of focus for the discussions included:

• Social Determinants of Justice – Employment and Income, Housing, Education, Health and Mental Health, Child Welfare, and Immigration and Settlement  
• Policing
• Courts and Legislation
• Corrections
• Parole, Re-entry and Reintegration

The report includes eight structural and accountability recommendations aimed at advancing systemic change, and 106 short, medium and long-term recommendations identified under the five key areas of focus.

A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy by Akwasi Owusu-Bempah and Zilla Jones is available in English here: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/cbjs-scjn/transformative-transformateur/index.html.

Étapes pour un changement transformateur : Stratégie canadienne en matière de justice pour les personnes noires est disponible en français ici : https://www.justice.gc.ca/fra/jp-cj/scjn-cbjs/transformateur-transformative/index.html.