Deaths in custody are not tracked in a consistent way across Canada, leaving little information available to the public. Our project is a data justice and public criminology research initiative, but our research is about the lives and deaths of people who come into contact with the criminal legal system. Each person who dies in custody is someone with family, friends, and loved ones on the outside. We hope this memorial honours the lives of those lost.
There is no sustained civil society or government body keeping track of police-involved deaths and deaths during incarceration, across Canada.
The lack of data prevents researchers, policymakers, advocates, and communities most impacted by police violence from answering basic questions about police use of force and police-involved deaths. Building on past initiatives, the Tracking (In)Justice Project created this database to track information and fill this gap so that others could use it for analysis, policy work and to effect change.
This presentation will identify the numbers, analysis, and highlight how our research is moving beyond the numbers into social action. The Lived Experience and Family Committee that acts as the oversight of our research will also be featured.
Presented at the 2023 HSJCC Virtual Conference on November 16, 2023.
Presenters:
Lindsay Jennings
(She/Her)
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE WITH THE TRACKING IN JUSTICE PROJECT
Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Carleton University
Alexander McClelland
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Carleton University
