National Justice Survey 2022

Executive Summary

Contract Information

This public opinion research report presents the methodological details for the 2022 National Justice Survey conducted by Advanis Inc. on behalf of Department of Justice Canada (“Justice Canada”). The survey was administered with 4,949 Canadians between February 15^th and March 10^th, 2022.

Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Sondage national sur la justice 2022

This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from 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: J4-93/1-2022E-PDF
• International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-43940-2

• Related publications (registration number: POR 100-21):

  Catalogue number: J4-93/1-2022F-PDF (Methodological Report, French)

  International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 978-0-660-43945-7

• © Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Justice, 2022

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 (JUS). 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 2022 NJS was to collect information on the following:

1. confidence in the fairness and accessibility of Canada’s criminal justice system;
2. public awareness and understanding of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights;
3. the impact of COVID-19 on perceptions and experiences of access to Canada’s family justice system;
4. perceptions of Canada’s youth criminal justice system, including the Youth Criminal Justice Act; and
5. perceptions and concerns about cybercrime in Canada.

In addition to questions on the topic areas outlined above, the questionnaire included questions on key demographics (gender, age, ethno-cultural group, Indigenous identity, income, employment).

1.2 Methodology

The 2022 survey was conducted online with 4,949 people aged 18 years and older living in each of Canada’s provinces and territories from February 15 to March 10, 2022. 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 2016 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 improve efforts to collect data to better understand and address issues of systemic racism in the justice system.

A full quantitative methodology report, including all information about the execution of the fieldwork that is needed to replicate the research initiative, can be found in Appendix A. The quantitative survey research instruments and a set of tabulated results from the quantitative surveys are provided in English and French under separate covers.

1.3 Contract value

The value of this contract, including HST, is $68,440.21.

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