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The evidence of systemic racism in our country, including in our so-called justice system, is indisputable. As criminologists, we know that Indigenous and Black people are heavily represented in our prisons, and are treated more harshly at every stage of the âjusticeâ process: from arrest, charges, prosecution, bail hearings and sentencing; to the use of force and segregation placements behind bars; to release. And while many politicians decry systemic racism, they keep giving more funding to police and prisons.
As our leaders talk of âbuilding back betterâ after the pandemic, itâs time to fundamentally rethink how to make communities safer. Instead, our governments are showing an utter collapse of imagination and moral leadership by doubling down on current practices, which will result in more people killed by police or dying in prison.