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.

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 Race and Culture 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 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 legal system.  VDJI’s IRCA 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.

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 legal 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.

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.

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 legal system.