National Justice Survey 2023

Executive Summary

Contract Information

This public opinion research report presents the executive summary for the 2023 National Justice Survey conducted by Advanis Inc. on behalf of Department of Justice Canada (“Justice Canada”). The survey was administered with 4,487 Canadians between March 9^th and May 18^th, 2023.

Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Sondage national sur la justice 2023

This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from the Department of Justice Canada. For more information on this report, please contact the Department of Justice Canada at rsd.drs@justice.gc.ca or at:

• Catalogue Number: J4-931-2023E-PDF
• International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-67839-9

• Related publications (registration number: POR 129-22):

  Catalogue number: J4-931-2023F-PDF (Methodological Report, French)

  International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-67840-5

• © His Majesty the King in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Justice Canada, 2023

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Background and Objectives

The National Justice Survey (NJS) is an annual national public opinion research study conducted by the Department of Justice Canada ("Justice Canada"). The survey collects information on the views, knowledge, concerns, and priorities of Canadians on important justice-related issues. Results of the study are used to inform ongoing and future policy development, departmental reporting, communications, and public engagement on important justice-related issues.

The objective of the 2023 NJS was to collect information on the following:

1. public awareness of restorative justice (RJ) processes, as well as opinions regarding its use;
2. public awareness of and views on the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA);
3. public perceptions about Indigenous justice systems and processes; and,
4. public awareness of and confidence in the criminal justice system, and civil justice system (with a focus on the family justice system).

In addition to questions on the topic areas outlined above, the questionnaire included questions on key demographic characteristics of respondents (e.g., gender, age, ethno-cultural group, Indigenous identity, income, employment).

1.2 Methodology

The 2023 National Justice Survey was conducted online with 4,487 people aged 18 years and older living in each of Canada’s provinces and territories from March 9 to May 18, 2023. Respondents from a pre-profiled database recruited randomly via telephone were sent SMS or email invites to participate in the study. The average survey length was 18 minutes. The survey data were weighed to replicate, as closely as possible, the Canadian population, aged 18 years or older by age, gender, region, highest level of education, Indigenous identity and ethno-cultural identity^[1] using data from the 2021 Census of Population. Respondents were offered the survey in the official language of their choice.

An oversampling of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, as well as those from racialized ethno-cultural groups was employed and important in the context of the growing calls for public sector organizations to efforts to collect disaggregated data, and to understand justice issues through an intersectional lens.

The quantitative survey instrument, all methodical information that would be required to replicate the research initiative, can be found in Appendix A. Tabulated results from the quantitative survey are provided in English and French under separate covers.

1.3 Contract value

The value of this contract, including HST, is $102,183.23.

1.4 Political neutrality requirement

Political neutrality certification

I hereby certify as Senior Officer of Advanis that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements outlined in the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity and the Directive on the Management of Communications.

Specifically, the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting intentions, political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leaders.

Signed

Nicolas Toutant

Vice-President, Research and Evaluation

Advanis