Impact of Race & Culture Assessment (IRCA)

The African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC) writes impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA) for all members of African descent to provide the court with a complete picture of the individual’s social location family and highlight the specific circumstances that contributed to the individual’s involvement in the criminal justice system.  

The Impact of Race Culture Assessment (IRCA) is a report that provides the judge with a complete picture of an individual’s background, histories, by contextualizing the circumstances and experiences of individuals of African descent from the Black community. The report provides information on the historic and intergenerational trauma and understanding of the individual’s community while articulating the circumstances of an accused for a judge to make informed sentencing and release decisions.  

Our reports are prepared by qualified and experienced social workers under the supervision of ACCEC’s CEO and president. The assessors have extensive knowledge in racial, cultural, and historical knowledge, integrating an African Indigenous perspective to provide the judicial system with a complete picture of the individual’s family, social context, and specific circumstances contributing to their involvement in the criminal justice system. Our report writers have extensive knowledge, awareness, and engagement with race-based issues in the Black Canadian communities. 

  • The report provides information on the historic and intergenerational trauma and understanding of the individual’s community while articulating the circumstances of an accused for a judge to make informed sentencing and release decisions. 

  • How systemic racism is factoring into sentences for Black Albertans CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/black-indigenous-offenders-gladue-enhanced-pre-sentence-reports-1.5951638 

  • Reported Decisions R v Chol, 2022 ABPC 41