About Literacy and Policing

Photo courtesy of Maggie Villeneuve / Photo gracieuseté de Maggie Villeneuve

The Literacy and Policing Project aims to make police officers more aware of the:

Listen to our interview with Dorothy Ahlgren-Franklin on CBC Radio Maritime Noon
(8:55 minute audio)
Listen to our interview with Dorothy Ahlgren-Franklin on CKCU FM 93.1 Wednesday Special Blend
(9:00 minute audio)
  • nature of the problems caused by low literacy in the community,
  • contribution of literacy training to crime prevention and lower recidivism,
  • effects of literacy deficits in the criminal justice system, and
  • challenges to successful communication caused by low literacy.

We aim to help police to increase their effectiveness in communicating with all of those who come into contact with the law: victims of crime, suspects, witnesses, and the general public for whom literacy challenges may pose a barrier to justice.