The John Howard Society is out to shatter some myths about crime in Canada.
The community based organization, which supports people who are at risk or involved in the justice system, held its first lunch and learn for the public Tuesday afternoon with a focus on how poverty affects crime.
Only 10 per cent of the country lives in poverty, but the organization argues that nearly 100 per cent of people in jail are from that deprived demographic.
"We incarcerate the poor people and that impacts their ability to access bail, access resources and once they're released once again they're released into situations of poverty and homelessness," executive director Liisa Leskowski said.
"This is abbot hoping to be able to demystify some of those myths through evidence and research."
Some of those other myths include people thinking that pardons are easy to obtain and put communities at risk. Leskowski said the last federal election put an emphasis on crime and created fear in some of the community that's unwarranted.
"Really the reality is that crime rates are dropping," she said.
The society wants to educate the public and start a dialogue about the realities of the criminal justice system. Its next lunch and learn will be held in January.
