CANADIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DE JUSTICE PÉNALE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT
2019-2020
MISSION
The Canadian Criminal Justice Association is composed of professionals and interested citizens who work together as a strong and credible force to encourage rational, informed and responsible research, study and the sharing of information in order to enhance the development of a humane, equitable and effective criminal justice system in Canada.
GOALS
1. Fostering Communication Within and About the Criminal Justice Field
Over the course of the last decade we re-established and strengthened our relationship with the Societé de Criminologie du Quebec. In 2019 we co-hosted our centennial Congress in Quebec City. As was the case with our 2011 conference, this was a tremendous success. We welcomed close to 600 delegates and were privileged to hear from a star-studded line up of plenary speakers including the Chief Justice of Canada, the Chief Justice of Quebec, a number of Senators and other luminaries. Delegates came from every province, the USA, France and England.
Going forward we are working with the Parole Board of Canada, Corrections Canada, Public Safety and the RCMP in planning for our next Congress which will also be the 5th World Congress on Probation on Parole. Our partners are paroling associations in Europe, Australia, Japan and the United States. This event is scheduled for September 2021and much of the planning has already progressed substantially.
2. Public Education/Partnerships
Our affiliation partnerships continue with the International Corrections and Prisons Association, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the American Correctional Association. It is as a result of these partnerships that we were invited to co-host the 5th World Congress on Probation and Parole.
As mentioned above, our partnership with the Societé de Criminologie produced an excellent Congress to the benefit of both organizations.
In July 2019 Dr. Patrick Lussier of Laval University assumed the duties of Editor of our Journal of Criminology and Criminology. The Journal is now only in online format but, is doing well in readership and interest.
The Justice Report under the editorship of Nancy Wright has produced excellent issues and has attracted many student submissions as well as the usual interesting articles by known authors. Our online version is now the preferred option for a majority of members. Access to current and legacy issues, dating back to 1971, has also attracted many online readers.
3. Research/Policy Development
The Policy Review Committee (PRC) continues to meet regularly under the chairmanship of Howard Bebbington. We have been very successful in attracting students as PRC guests and contributors. We continue also to engage student policy interns on a regular basis. The work of the PRC contributed a number of briefs, letters and communications to Ministers and Parliamentary Committees.
4. Governance and Organizational Development
While we have experienced some staff turnover over the year, we have been fortunate in recruiting excellent replacement staff. We operate with an office staff of part time students. With only one person in the office at a time, this has permitted us to maintain normal functioning during the COVID pandemic. In addition, as a very lean organization, many of our administrative functions are contracted out. This includes editorial work on the Justice Report and the Journal and their printing and mailing. Bookkeeping and financial processes are managed electronically as much as possible and expanded with online services. This has saved in staff time as well as in responding to members’ needs.
5. Resource Development
More than half our operating budget is provided as a sustaining grant by Public Safety Canada and we are always grateful for their on-going support. Our grant has however been significantly reduced for the period of 2020-2025 which will be a challenge for our budget process.
The implementation of the online version of the Justice Report has created opportunities while also greatly enhancing our public visibility.
While Congress 2019 was great success, it did not increase our membership roll as much as another congress since most delegates were or became members of the SCQ.
Irving Kulik
Executive Director