Overview

The Community-Based Justice Fund supports Indigenous communities in delivering justice programs based on their own needs and justice-related priorities, through cost-shared partnerships with provincial and territorial governments.

The objective of the Community-Based Justice Fund is to foster improved responsiveness, fairness, inclusiveness, and effectiveness within the justice system, thereby advancing the priority of Indigenous communities in reclaiming the administration of justice to better meet their justice needs and aspirations. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of exploring appropriate models for:

• public awareness and prevention
• diversion
• dispute resolution and mediation, including civil and family mediation
• development of pre-sentencing options
• sentencing options (such as sentencing circles)
• Gladue aftercare and post-sentence supports
• offender reintegration
• support for victims
• additional community justice services which support the overall goals of the Indigenous Justice Program (IJP)

Through the Community-Based Justice Fund, the IJP currently supports approximately 211 community-based programs that serve over 650 urban, rural, remote and Northern communities, both on- and off-reserve.

Find a program near you.

Funded programs work to address the root causes of crime and are designed to reflect the justice values, traditions and culture of the communities in which they are situated. Program activities can fall at any point along the justice continuum, including but not limited to, prevention, pre-charge diversion, post-charge diversion and reintegration.

Who is eligible?

Any of the following may be eligible for contribution funding under the Community-Based Justice Fund:

• First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Chiefs and Band Councils, Tribal Councils, local, regional and national Indigenous organizations
• regional/municipal governments including their agencies and institutions
• non-profit community organizations, societies, and associations which have voluntarily associated themselves for a non-profit purpose
• provincial and territorial governments (in the case of flow-through agreements)

How to apply for funding

There is no call for proposal process for this Fund. If you are interested in discussing a funding proposal, we encourage you to email the Indigenous Justice Program.

Proposals received are reviewed in consultation with provincial or territorial partners. Assessment factors may include community requirements and the availability of funds.