Gladue reports make sentencing more personal, expert says – StarPhoenix
One of the biggest disconnects between aboriginal people and the justice system is in northern communities, where aboriginal offenders are so common in court that many judges and lawyers believe they’re already experts on the challenges they face.
The same could be said for Saskatoon.
That was one of the messages Jonathan Rudin had for the law students, professors, lawyers and judges in a packed lecture theatre Tuesday at the University of Saskatchewan. Rudin, director of Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto, spoke about the history of Gladue reports in Ontario, hoping those in the room could learn from his experiences.
“Saskatchewan is not the world leader in Gladue,” Rudin said. “I think sometimes in places like Saskatchewan, where it seems such a daunting task – how are we going to do something – that it sometimes paralyzes people.”
