Critical Reflection on the Most Problematic Process within the Canadian Criminal Courts

Throughout the term, we have walked through the stages of the criminal court through an examination of the points of tension therewithin. Together, we have interrogated and critically analyzed what these problems mean for marginalized, racialized, and Indigenous folks, victims, the broader community, criminal justice actors, the broader criminal justice system, and the administration of justice. With this deeper understanding and using your initial impressions of the most problematic process, structure, or function of the criminal courts in Canada, you are going to critically reflect on your earlier impressions, given what you have learned in the course. Now that you have more (or reinforced) perspectives from the readings and lecture material, you are in a position to present a critical discussion of the most problematic process within the Canadian criminal courts.
 
In your reflection, you should critically reconsider the most problematic process within the criminal courts using course material. Using your reflection from the beginning of term, think about how your perceptions have changed, grown stronger, or stayed the same. If your perceptions since the beginning of term have changed completely, you are absolutely able to shift to a different process – that is the beauty of learning and critically engaging with course material. If your opinion of the most pressing or problematic process in the courts has stayed the same, critically reflect on why. The purpose of this assignment is to gauge your comprehension of course material and to demonstrate your critical understanding of the most pressing issues facing the criminal court processes in Canada. Importantly, you should think about how this Issue/process impacts our access to justice. In your reflection, you should also include relevant legislation, statutes, or provisions related to your topic, along with an analysis of how this helps or hinders the problem you are discussing. To wrap your reflection, provide insight into a way to move forward in the future to address this challenge or 
problematic process within the criminal courts in Canada.  
 
In your reflection, you should use the following to guide your reflection: 
• Interrogate and analyze your initial perceptions on the most problematic issue/process/point of tension from the beginning of term to what you think now  
• Critically discuss why the process is the most problematic in the criminal courts (using course material) in detail and how this impacts our access to justice 
• Identify a relevant legislation, statute, bill, or provision related to the process and discuss whether it helps or hinders the point of tension that you are discussing 
• Identify and discuss an area reform (based on your earlier discussion of the implications of the problem), informed through course material 
 
I want to hear your voice on the most problematic process within the courts, backed by course material. Show me your passion, critical thinking, and how you can push these conversations forward to make meaningful change within the criminal courts, where you believe change is due.  
 
Again, it might be helpful for you to think about how you view the courts, what you believe the goals, function and structure of the courts should be, and what you understand about the roots of the problems that you are discussing.  

Guidance for the Reflection

Important notes: 
• Remember: This is a reflection. I want to hear your voice! However, it still needs to be written in a professional tone. 
• Your reflection should be between 1250-1750 words (approximately 5-7 pages double spaced) 
• The bulk of your reflection should address points 1 and 2 from above 
• You should draw on course material (lectures, articles, supplementary material) to support your opinions within your reflection. You are welcome to bring in outside sources, if desired 
• Demonstrate that you have thought about these issues critically. Presenting a one-sided discussion will not earn you many marks.  
• Think about how the problematic process impacts one or more of the following: 
marginalized, racialized and Indigenous groups, victims, the broader community, criminaljustice actors, the broader criminal justice system, and the administration of justice. What are the roots of these issues?  
• Your reflection needs to flow. Make sure to craft your assignment in a way that reads and presents logically and critically, rather than just answering point by point. The writing process is organic. You’re going to start with a hunch about how your reflection will flow. But, ultimately, it will develop as you write and work with it. And that’s okay! 
• Your reflection should be completed in the format outlined by the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition. Please refer to the APA guide from the library or OWL Purdue.  
o This includes: an APA title page, 1-inch margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman font,page numbers, in-text citations and a full APA reference page.  
o If you are unsure how to properly format your reflection, PLEASE ask for support.

 

• Students are encouraged to get their creative juices flowing and present this reflection in the form of a podcast, if you prefer. 1250-1750 words of text is approximately 8-13 minutes of speech. If you choose to present your assignment as a podcast, you must submit an 8–13-minute audio clip via a Google Drive link to D2L. 

o You will still want to script your podcast. You should time yourself to keep it within
o Be creative. You can add sound or music, but this is not expected 
o You should start with a hook, an intro or a beginning segment, then launch into your critical reflection. You MUST still reference throughout (verbally) 
o Your podcast should still adhere to APA 7th edition guidelines 
o You can use built-in computer devices or a free-recorder or podcast-making App Again, it does not need to be anything fancy, but just another way to express your work creatively.  
• Your assignment should be submitted via D2L 
• Rubrics and tips for writing your reflection will follow and will be discussed in detail in class,together.