Immigration status, race/ethnicity, HIV and the criminal law in Canada: Seeking Participants

Researchers at the University of Toronto are seeking individuals to participate in a project aiming to explore and understand the intersection of immigration status and racialization related to the criminalization of HIV in Canada. It asks: What is the significance of immigration status and racialization for the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure in Canada? This research is being conducted by a team of researchers lead by Dr. Laura Bisaillon of the University of Toronto. Civil society partners are the HIV and AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO), the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO), and the Prisoners with HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN).

The researchers are interested in talking to people about their experiences with pre-removal assessment, deportation, detention, casework and case management, and courtroom preparation and appearance, among other processes related to experiences with criminalization, immigration and HIV status in Canada. The CIHR Social Research Centre in HIV Prevention funds the research. Ethics approval has been granted.

They are looking to interview the following two groups of people:

a) Individuals who identify as non-white or of colour and who have faced criminal charges relating to their HIV status, and who might or might not be in Canada; and/or

b) Community workers and service providers who have experience working with the people listed above (AIDS service organization personnel, other community group personnel, lawyers in legal clinics and private practice, public health personnel, other).

Confidential interviews will take about one hour, and will be arranged at a mutually agreed upon time and place (over the telephone or via Skype, public location, professional office). A $50 honorarium will be offered to people listed above in a). 
Eligible and interested persons please contact Laura Bisaillon, Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Health Studies Program 

or Kambili Husbands, Research Assistant.