Deadline: 24-Jul-22
The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the Alternative Justice Mechanisms for Sexual Violence Project to identify legal barriers to alternative justice mechanisms for sexual violence.
LEAF is seeking a researcher to conduct research and interviews, and to summarize that research in a final report that identifies how legal frameworks could be modified to facilitate alternative justice mechanisms for sexual violence.
Funding Information
The successful applicant will be awarded $20,000 to complete their research and write their report. The researcher will be expected to adhere to an agreed upon schedule of deliverables, including: in collaboration with LEAF staff, assembling an Advisory Committee by September 30, 2022; submitting a detailed research plan by October 31, 2022; submitting a detailed outline of the report (date to be determined); submitting a draft of the research report by mid-June 2023, to be reviewed by the Advisory Committee; and submitting a final report by August 15, 2023. All research products must be completed by August 15, 2023.
Types of Practices
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Alternative justice practices that can be integrated into the Canadian legal system: With respect to alternative practices that are amenable to integration into the legal system, the researcher will conduct research as well as structured interviews with alternative justice practitioners and legal system actors (e.g., Crown counsel and counsel for survivors) to determine:
- Existing laws and policies that regulate alternative justice processes;
- The Crown policies and practices that govern recourse to “Alternative Measures” under section 717 of the Criminal Code in relation to sexual assault offences and how, if at all, “Alternative Measures” are considered for such offences;
- How, if at all, should access to “Alternative Measures” in sexual assault prosecutions be enhanced in a way that centres the justice needs of survivors;
- Building on the research already conducted in LEAF’s Due Justice reports, whether university investigations and university disciplinary proceedings are meeting the needs of survivors;
- Consulting community-based alternative justice practitioners to determine whether they face legal barriers in carrying out their work: On a parallel track, the researcher will consult with practitioners of alternative justice outside of regulated processes. The researcher will determine practitioners’ views on the legal system, and how their processes interact with or are inhibited by law.
Criteria
- LEAF welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities for all available opportunities. Where possible, accommodations will be made available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
- LEAF encourages applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities. They strongly encourage applicants who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, newcomers, gender-diverse, and/or part of other equity-deserving groups to apply.
For more information, visit LEAF.
For more information, visit https://www.leaf.ca/news/call-for-proposals-alternative-justice-mechanisms-for-sexual-violence-project/