Commentary
Canadians are tired of reading news stories about violent, dangerous offenders receiving light jail sentences, if any at all. Demands have been made for tougher sentencing and bail reform, and Ottawa has responded with a criminal justice reform plan that may address some of the challenges in keeping dangerous offenders incarcerated.
However, the government pointedly overlooked one judicial policy that leads to the release of many dangerous offenders: a mandate from the Supreme Court of Canada in 1999 called the Gladue principles.
When reading of an offender being handed a light sentence or early release by a judge, there is often a reference to Gladue principles from the sentencing justice….