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The article titled “The Police Culture” (2019) provided me with an explanation of some of the police sanctioned violence I have witnessed and heard of over the years. The police mentality is something I did not have literature to back up before, despite having heard of the defund the police movement, and learning about how quickly police involvement can escalate situations. This literature provided some foundational knowledge that I can reference in the future, and further backed my opinions that I held prior to this class. It is not just one or two cops making bad decisions, it is a systemic issue. “The police culture helps create the police personality, which is the way the police look at the world”. (Goff, C. 2019).

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Advocacy, A Guide to Representing Yourself in Court

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Advocacy, A Guide to Representing Yourself in Court

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This self advocacy guide to representing yourself in court has already proved useful to me. I have had several discussions about the importance of accessible and available legal representation as Legal Aid is understaffed and underfunded. This guide provides a framework for someone to advocate for themself in court, if they are unable to access legal aid otherwise. The text itself is written coherently and without much jargon, providing an appropriate format for people to read and understand without much outside assistance. Even if someone can access a lawyer, having this guide provides information that allows for someone to advocate for themselves. Which may be helpful even with legal aid. (Alis, 2015).

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Homeless Encampments Through a Human Rights Lens

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Homeless Encampments Through a Human Rights Lens

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“Recognize that addressing encampments cannot be a substitute for addressing homelessness” (Brown, A., et al, 2022). I cannot overstate the importance of including homelessness and its criminalization in a law class. Thank you. For anyone who already works in social services, we know this is a massive issue and examples can be seen in anti-homeless architecture. It can be seen in criminalizing panhandling and attempting to shelter in doorways. It can be seen daily, when bylaw completes street sweeps and rips tents down.

This guide provides a thorough framework for people new to the field to give some foundation and clear guidance on why criminalizing homelessness is not a solution and is inhumane.

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The following series of answers aims to explore my exemplary learning and how it has impacted my future practice. During my progress throughout this course I have been given the opportunity to learn about the nuances of law. I have been able to begin integrating the knowledge I have gained from this course, to allow me to be a better social worker and advocate in the future. This course has given me a basic overview of the legal system and how that is relevant to social workers and their clients. One of the most important things I have learned is that preliminary research can make or break an advocacy case. By ensuring I give myself time to research local laws and applicable policies and or bylaws, I am able to start my advocacy with a more solid foundation. An example of this is knowing my rights and the rights of my clients before interacting with police. Being able to work professionally and ethically with police is an important part of social services, and will continue to come up in my work with marginalized communities. Knowing how to advocate for my clients to keep themselves safe while adhering to policies and procedures required by law and my organization will continue to be a crucial part of my day to day, in successfully working as a social worker.

I noticed that my case analysis became more concise with rationale that met expectations provided in feedback. I was able to integrate the feedback I was provided so as to provide a more comprehensive analysis which meets general standards, but will ultimately depend on the structure used by whichever organization I end up working with. The evidence I provided in the first case analysis was deemed ‘sufficient’, mostly. However the feedback I received allowed me to narrow in on this, and find better ways to prove my points and back them up with credible sources. A skill I will take with me in my future practice.

I was really proud of my media assignment. I am friends with the nurse in the article I chose, and her experience was part of why I chose it. I showed her the feedback I got on it, and she thanked me for using it as she and I both feel it is important to know and discuss. The prevalence of police sanctioned violence is a problem for the communities I work in and will continue to be if not addressed. Being able to actively incorporate this article into my learning allows me to have more meaning and drive to complete this program and be able to advocate within the community. This article was relevant to my learnings in class, as it relates to such concepts as “police personality”, and how these harmful traits can exacerbate and cause further harm. I did not delve too far into the ‘defund the police’ movement in this assignment, but this is an appropriate time to discuss alternative forms of justice as discussed in class.

I tried to incorporate all of the feedback I received from the instructor. My understanding of said feedback though, varied. I worked closely with several peers and we amalgamated our feedback so as to try and deduce what the best approaches would be for future assignments without sacrificing marks in the process.

Reflecting on my learning process, I recognize the need to enhance my cultural humility to further my advocacy efficacy. Cultural humility is a crucial component of the work that needs to be done, to begin working towards reconciliation and reparations for land back. I found the readings on Indigenous justice to be of great value, as they present different ways of approaching crime. “No one is disposable… so they offender needs to be cared for, and re-integrated back into the community, not driven out in shame. The needs of the victim are also crucial to the process” (Lavoie, 2023). While this is not a direct quote from the literature provided on Indigenous perspectives it does speak to what the importance is of including these. It is necessary to discuss as it provides context to the readings, and allows for a more integrated understanding of the literature provided.

“Privilege means our cultural norms are invisible to ourselves -- we assume our experience is universal and cannot understand how our good intentions could have oppressive results” (Mullaly & West, 2018, p. 178). As a white woman living on unceded territories, I need to be reflexive in my practice and this includes the ongoing responsibility of learning about the cultures of the people on this land. As we know now, “Canada’s prisons are the ‘new residential schools” (Macdonald, 2016). For change to occur there needs to be a systemic dismantling of current ways of being, so as to better support all people, not just those unopposed by the state. The evidence shows that in Canada, “the Indigenous incarceration rate is 10 times higher than the non-Indigenous population” (Macdonald, 2016). With this information in mind, a crucial takeaway is that moving forward we can not be successful in our attempts at reconciliation without addressing all aspects of ongoing oppression and effects of the colonial agenda. This is inclusive of the law, and how policing occurs today. I can and will continue to advocate for Indigenous rights and macro level changes. I can do this by continuing to call on my supervisors to include cultural safety training and to make it mandatory. I can further inflict change by having conversations with colleagues in the moment if I see them potentially working with someone in a way that is harmful. This class has given me further insight and perspective on realistic ways I can work to support individuals at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. In addition to more up to date statistics of how badly our system is truly failing people of color, and other marginalized communities. I appreciate the opportunity this class has provided me to expand on these areas, and the resources provided that I can take with me into future practice.

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Alias. (2015). Advocacy, A Guide to Representing Yourself in Court. Artists’ Legal Information Society.

Brown, A., Gillies, S., Marshall, V., Mcgurk, H., Pin, L. (2022). Homeless Encampments Through a Human Rights Lens. Municipal Policies and Recommendations September 2022. Laurier University.

Goff, C., (2019) Criminal justice in Canada (8th ed.) Top Hat.

Lavoie, C., (2023). Indigenous People’s Justice. VIULearn.

Macdonald, N., (2016). Canada’s prisons are the ‘new residential schools’. Macleans.

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Introduction to Advocacy Using an Anti-oppressive Framework

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Introduction to Advocacy Using an Anti-oppressive Framework

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This literature allowed me to gain insight and understanding on how to critically assess and reflect on my own practice, and how to realistically utilize and endorse anti-oppressive practices in my day to day. I remember this article well, because I had a lengthy conversation with a classmate about it. We discussed our criticisms of the idealistic literature included in some of our courses, and our appreciation of the inclusion of pieces like this. This provides a framework for our approach in a way that is tangible, and backed by research. A quote I liked from this was “A simple definition of advocacy is the work, through vocal support and promotion, of bringing about a change to some condition with, or on behalf of, an individual, family, group, or community.” (Rempel, 2017).