Views Differ On Gathering Aboriginal Crime Data
Friday, October 02, 2009 at 12:41
There are some differing opinions on what the impact of a potential study on Aboriginal crime statistics could be.
A vice-chief with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is questioning the logic behind the study, while a police chief is more optimistic about it.
The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics wants to compile data on Aboriginal crime numbers in the province.
It says there is a gap right now, because officers aren’t asking enough suspects and victims whether or not they’re Aboriginal.
FSIN Vice-chief Lyle Whitefish says he thinks it could be tough for officers to ask people that when they’re responding to calls.
He also says you don’t need a study to know Aboriginal people are over-represented in the justice system.
“There’s enough statistics, and I don’t know what more they want, in terms of finding numbers. That’s basically how I feel is, you know, there’s special investigation units we have at the federation. Come and talk to us about those certain situations. That’s one piece — and of course, how do we solve the issues,” Whitefish says.
Meantime, the chief of the Prince Albert Police Service says the general purpose of the study is to help people who are in trouble.
Dale McFee thinks if the information is used to help develop meaningful policy than the effort is worth it.
He also says officers in P.A. have been collecting information about people’s ethnicity for the last couple of years.
“As a police service, certainly we’re all for trying to help people. From our police service, we collect this (data) for all races, and that’s the way it’s done, and it’s (done in) a non-intrusive way — in other words, it’s a question asked, and if somebody doesn’t want to answer, so be it,” McFee says.
The chief adds the data would be used for general information purposes only, and he’s not worried it could lead to racial profiling.