B.C. Indigenous court defendants face sentencing report shortages – Vancouver Is Awesome

Problems getting Indigenous offender sentencing reports is “a huge problem,” says criminal lawyer.

Indigenous B.C. criminal case defendants continue to face challenges to their right to specific pre-sentencing reports as the system providing them continues to struggle with high demand, lack of writers and cash problems.

“They’re not being funded properly so the mechanism to combat colonialism is being undermined,” criminal defence lawyer Garen Arnet-Zargarian told Glacier Media.

Pre-sentencing reports for Indigenous people are called Gladue reports, demand for which is increasing by the year.

Read More: https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/bc-indigenous-court-defendants-face-sentencing-report-shortages-9270828