Impact of Race and Culture Assessments
What is an IRCA?
Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs), originated by the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute. IRCA reports help sentencing judges to better understand the effect of poverty, marginalization, anti-Black racism, and social exclusion on the offender and their life experience. They also explain the relationship between the offender’s lived experiences of racism and how they inform the circumstances of the offender, the offense committed, and the offender’s experience with the justice system
Similar to Gladue reports, which take into account the individual background and circumstances of an Indigenous accused, IRCAs inform sentencing judges of the disadvantages and systemic racism faced by Black and other racialized Canadians and may recommend alternatives to incarceration and/or culturally appropriate accountability measures within a sentence of incarceration. IRCAs have been used for Black offenders, both adults and youth, at the sentencing stage of the criminal process. (from Justice Canada, 2021).
IRCA’s are reports that are used for Black adults and youth at the sentencing stage of the criminal process. IRCA’s help judges consider how racism, poverty and discrimination have contributed to a Black person’s interactions with the justice system, and help the judge decide what the sentence should be. An IRCA may recommend alternatives to incarceration, or it may recommend culturally appropriate accountability measures within a sentence of incarceration.
IRCA’s were made to address systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Race can result in many societal and legal disadvantages that can lead to unfair or disproportionately harsh sentencing decisions for Black individuals.
IRCA’s provide an opportunity for judges to give fairer sentences to Black individuals by considering the harmful effects that discrimination and marginalization may have on the person’s life and the judicial process.
VDJI is pleased to offer a diverse roster of Accredited IRCA Assessors across Canada. Contact us if you or your client would like to request an IRCA.