Wrongful Conviction Day: Access to Justice - Member Statement
MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I will also speak to Wrongful Conviction Day, which is today.
When people think of wrongful convictions it is most often that the focus is on murders or other major cases. However, it's important to recognize that wrongful convictions also take place with much smaller offences that still have a very damaging impact. For marginalized and impoverished people, including people with disabilities, people with mental illnesses, and non-gender-conforming people, as well as Indigenous and racialized people not having resources and tools to navigate the legal system can result in taking pleas to offences that they did not commit.
Some reasons people may plea include a fear of receiving a longer sentence at trial because they want to get out of jail, or because they do not understand the legal system. In turn, a guilty plea even to a misdemeanor can result in further cycling through the system, negative impacts on employment, and the social and legal stigma of having a record.
It's important to recognize the many miscarriages of justice that take place on this everyday level, Mr. Speaker. Improving funding to Legal Aid and access to justice helps prevent these wrongful convictions and it is imperative.
Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.
Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/index.php/proceedings/hansard/