Thirteen years after the Supreme Court of Canada issued a demand for
information that would enable trial judges to pass more culturally
sensitive sentences for aboriginal defendants, its edict has been
largely ignored in much of the country.
In most regions, a lack of
funding or a lack of interest has meant that detailed reports delving
into the background of offenders are simply not prepared.
Yet, these documents – named Gladue reports after the defendant in
the 1999 Supreme Court’s decision from which they evolved – are a vital
aid to judges considering the impact on a defendant of the historical
mistreatment of aboriginal communities. At the core of the Gladue
decision was a deep concern with the over-representation of aboriginal
people in jail. When judges are deprived of rich, case-specific
information, aboriginal offenders are much more likely to be thrown in
jail at a disproportionate rate.
“The reports are indispensable,”
said Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench.
“If you don’t get the best information with respect to the individual
background and sentencing options, the judge is not in a position to
come to the fit and proper sentence that Gladue requires.”
Read on...
1 comment:
I think it is most required for making more on this get engaged. queen bench
Post a Comment