Sociology MA student Jaclyn Tompalski, recipient of a MINDS Master’s Scholarship, shares her research

Congratulations to Sociology MA student Jaclyn Tompalski, who recently received a MINDS Master’s Scholarship for Indigenous Students. Read more about Jaclyn’s research below:

“My research examines the policies and practices related to Indigenous admissions to drug treatment courts. Specifically, I examine drug treatment court admission eligibility policy as something being colonial and exclusionary of Indigenous peoples, contributing to their over-representation in carceral corrections. Further, I examine the practices of service providers (lawyers, caseworkers, support workers, etc.) as they contribute to the referral and admission process of Indigenous clients. The ultimate objective of my research is to highlight colonial and systemically-racist policy that may be present, as well as to make any corresponding recommendations to mitigate such issues. Broadly, this is a small step towards addressing the over-representation of incarcerated Indigenous persons.” – Jaclyn Tompalski, MA Sociology student