Mandate
The Viola Desmond Justice Institute is dedicated to fostering an equitable criminal justice system in Canada by addressing systemic biases and promoting understanding of the impact of race and culture.
Mission
Our mission is to seek justice for Black individuals involved with the law by highlighting the adverse impacts of systemic anti-Black racism on African-Canadian communities through effective provision, training, mentorship and management of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs) in Canada.
Vision
A justice system free of discrimination and anti-Black racism.
Values
As a B3 Service-delivery organization, the Viola Justice Desmond Institute understands that addressing systemic racism in criminal justice is not neutral and must be guided by values and principles that are aligned with social justice, equity and supporting Black communities in the quest for justice. The following values are key pillars which guide our work and strategic direction at the Viola Desmond Justice Institute (VDJI).
Service
At VDJI, we recognize and understand the importance of providing quality, integrity and impactful service to Black communities through provision of comprehensive IRCA reports where empirical evidence is utilized to highlight the role and influence of institutional anti-Black racism on the lives of Black individuals involved with the law.
Justice
A fair and equitable legal system can only be measured if it is just for the most vulnerable and marginalized. Justice cannot be achieved for African-Canadians/Black communities if systemic anti-Black racism in the criminal legal system is not addressed in ways that create meaningful progressive change for Black individuals involved with the law. At VDJI, we believe that Impact of Culture and Race Assessment reports can have a meaningful impact on the lives of Black Canadian communities by addressing the over-representation of Black people in the courts and prison systems.
Equity & Quality Assurance
Equity is understood as a hallmark value where ongoing and consistent tools, strategies and practices are necessary to effectively counter anti-Black racism in the criminal justice system. VDJI’s ICRA training program is a vital tool which provides quality assurance through a comprehensive training model in the form of ongoing professional development, support and mentorship for its Assessors.
Anti-Black Racism Expertise as Cultural Competency
VDJI recognizes the existence of anti-Black racism within and across Canadian systems and institutions, namely the criminal legal system. For this reason, this project is focused on the training, accreditation, provision and mentorship of IRCA Assessors as a key component to fostering an equitable criminal justice system. We believe that provision of comprehensive and high quality IRCAs to be a crucial tool to promote an understanding of the significant impact that anti-Black racism has on the lives of Black Canadians, namely those involved with the law.
Inclusivity & Intersectionality
This project understands Black Canadian communities as heterogenous and diverse, with multiple intersections such as language, ethnicity, class, religion, and gender identity and expression. In particular, this project focuses on utilizing IRCAs to demonstrate the nuances of how systemic anti-Black racism with respect to how intersecting social relations of power impact the lives of Black individuals involved with the law.
Public Legal Education
VDJI recognizes the importance of education in promoting understanding of the lived experiences, realities and insights of Black Canadian communities in relationship with the law, and are dedicated to raising awareness about the existence of systemic anti-Black racism in the Canadian justice system.