Statistics Canada released a report highlighting the differences in treatment of homicide cases where Indigenous women and girls were the victims. The data in the report covered 2009 to 2021 showed that first-degree murder charges, the most severe homicide charge, were only applied to 27% of the cases when the victim was an Indigenous female compared to 55% when they were non-Indigenous females.
Kyla Lee, a Métis defense lawyer in Vancouver commented on the discrepancy in the sentencing when someone is accused of killing an Indigenous woman.
“I think there is still a lot of unconscious bias in policing, investigations and then charging decisions and those subconscious biases inform people’s perception of the value of another individual,” said Lee.
Lee said you can see this not only in homicides but across the legal system.
“If you are Indigenous or the victim of your crime is Indigenous you are more likely to get a better plea offer and a lighter sentence because of this unconscious bias,” she said.
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From 2009 to 2021 the study identified 490 women and girls who were victims of homicide. The homicide rate is 4.27 per 100,000 Indigenous women and girls. That average is six times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
Read the full article here.
Photo by Howl Arts Collective – missing justice 14 feb. 2014, CC BY 2.0
