Correctional Service of Canada ideology and “violent” Aboriginal female offenders

Theoretical and empirical inquiry largely portrays women involved in “violent” offences as “unnatural/evil”. Drawing upon the unified systems variant of socialist feminist theory, this study evaluates the relationship between the “unnatural/evil” “violent” female offender identity and the ideological and material control of “violent” female offenders within the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), a capitalist patriarchal institution. Specific consideration is given to the role of race, Aboriginal, in the potential relationship, and class, as controlled by the research population.

Content analysis was conducted on two data sources: (1) the sworn transcripts of the public hearing proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry into Certain Events at the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and (2) transcripts of the public consultation process (roundtable discussions) of the Commission of Inquiry. The proceedings and consultations communicate CSC's material treatment of female offenders (reflected in procedures and practices) and CSC ideology (reflected in policies and CSC representatives' discourse).

Two core variables, control and violent, and one subsidiary core variable, race, were adopted. There are five associated findings. First, it was uncovered that CSC ideology supports the identification of “violent” female offenders as “unnatural/evil”, in addition to other powerless identities. This was reinforced in the second finding, that CSC practice reveals harsh treatment of “violent” female offenders, concentrated at the “powerless” psychological/emotional/mental level, in addition to the physical level. Third, CSC ideology is firmly rooted in an expansive system of hierarchical authority that supports the enactment of oppressive practices. As such, it is a manifestation of control of “violent” female offenders and others. Comparatively, the fourth finding concludes that CSC practice is a manifestation of control of “violent” female offenders, noting a high level of individual CSC staff discretion which facilitates oppressive practices. And fifth, the above findings support the cursory conclusion of oppressive identification, control and treatment of “violent” Aboriginal female offenders being deeply embedded within CSC's historic authoritative structure.

It is proposed that this research serve as a benchmark to compare and contrast with the current ideological and material operation of the new regional federal female correctional facilities in Canada. Policy implications and future research areas are discussed.