‘Troubling trends’ in Nova Scotia’s justice system for Black and Indigenous people – Globalnews.ca

The executive director of Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia says a lack of critical training is one of the main factors contributing to the overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in the justice system.

Emma Halpern’s comments to provincial politicians Tuesday were backed up by the “troubling trends” that the organization, which works with and on behalf of women in conflict with the law, has observed and recorded.

In the last five years, she said the organization is seeing an increase in Indigenous and African Nova Scotia people, who make up 40 per cent of those using their services and programming.

“We’re seeing an increase of clients from rural communities,” said Halpern at the Community Services Committee Proceedings, which discussed the overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous people in the justice system.

Read More: https://globalnews.ca/news/7671803/troubling-trends-nova-scotia-justice-system-black-indigenous/