Natives feel mistreated, says survey

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Natives don't think much of cops, the courts, and the prison system - even when Natives are the victims of crime.

And most of those polled in a recent Indian Association of Alberta survey of 32 Alberta bands had firsthand experience with the system - 40 per cent as victims and 57 per cent as offenders.

A strong majority felt Natives "are less likely to receive a fair trial than non-Natives," says the survey completed earlier this year by an independent company with no ax to grind.

Most Natives don't think the public cares.

Almost seven of every 10 Natives surveyed say that "non-Natives don't care if Natives receive a fair trial," says the survey presented here recently to the Alberta Task Force on the Criminal Justice System and its impact on Indian and Metis people.

Natives aren't just angry at the courts. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed believe the police - city and RCMP - treat Indians badly compared to the non-Native population.

They say even the way Natives are treated in prison stinks. About half those surveyed claim Natives "are not well treated " in federal and provincial jails.

Opinion about parole is negative as well. Close to half those surveyed think Natives don't get a fair shake at parole hearing.

The survey of 334 Natives found "a picture of a Native population that holds negative attitudes toward all aspects of the criminal justice system."

A criminal record severely cripples a Native's chances at getting an off-reserve job, the survey found. "A huge majority (82 per cent) feel that Natives with criminal records have a great deal of trouble getting jobs outside the reserve."

Those surveyed didn't just complain and had some answers to the raw deal they feel they're getting from the justice system.

Most believe "it is time for a criminal justice system run by Natives for Natives," says the John Yerxa Research Inc. Survey and report.

"They feel Natives have a better idea of what punishments are appropriate for Natives and are also more comfortable being police and represented by other Natives."

Ninety-one per cent "very strongly believe there should be more Native police," says the report. "They believe Natives are better able to police their own problems than to have to rely on outsiders to deal with them."

Despite the negative attitude against the justice system, the majority of those surveyed generally felt their personal experiences were generally fair. Seventy-eight per cent of males and 35 per cent of females admitted to having an arrest record.

A full 23 per cent said their homes had been broken into over the past year, 15 per cent had been assaulted and another 27 per cent had been robbed or had something stolen from them.

Most of the arrests were directly related to alcohol. Forth-eight per cent of the most recent arrests were for public drunkenness or impaired driving - some 70 per cent arrested within an hour or two of drinking.

Less than half say the police read them their rights and just over 40 per cent were offered legal aid to fight their cases, the survey report says. Only about half had a lawyer present when they went to court and 90 per cent were found guilty of at least one charge.

The survey , in its recommendations, says "alternatives to jail should be examined for non-violent alcohol-related incidents."