We are seeking an overview as to how
public policy has influenced incarceration levels in Canada over the past fifty
years to help us contextualize other work we are doing on HIV prevention in
prisons. This request does not
entail primary research but rather the collection and synthesis of a broad
range of information on related topics: the effects of Canadian drug policy,
the advent and role of alternative sentencing strategies, etc.
We also realize the broad nature of “public policy” as a topic and are open and receptive to proposals of research with a narrower focus.
Final product of the research: A research paper, and depending on continuing interest, to work with the collective in developing an educational pamphlet from the information.
Skills required: Second-year student or above, with an interest in Canadian public policy and/or criminology.
About the organization: The Prisoner Correspondence Project coordinates a direct-correspondence program for gay, lesbian, transsexual, transgender, gendervariant, two-spirit, intersex, bisexual and queer inmates in Canada, linking these inmates with people a part of these same communities outside of prison. The project also coordinates a resource library of information regarding harm reduction practice (safer sex, safer drug-use, clean needle care), HIV and HEPC prevention, homophobia, transphobia, coming out, etc.