Glen Assoun Acquitted of 20-Year-Old Murder Conviction

Halifax, NS: Glen Assoun heard the news this morning he has waited 20 excruciating years to hear – he was acquitted of the murder of his former common law spouse.

Shortly after federal Justice Minister David Lametti quashed Mr. Assoun’s conviction and requested a new trial, Nova Scotia’s prosecution service said it would not attempt to re-prosecute the case.

Prosecutor Mark Scott told the court that after reassigning the evidence, the Crown did not believe it had a realistic prospect of obtaining a conviction.

The decision brought tears to many in the packed courtroom, including the court clerk and Mr. Assoun’s many family members and supporters.

Justice Chipman specifically congratulated Innocence Canada and lawyers Phil Campbell and Sean MacDonald for the “tremendous work” they put into the case.

“You kept the faith with remarkable dignity,” Justice James Chipman told Mr. Assoun directly. “You are to be commended for your courage and resilience. You are a free man. I sincerely wish you every success.”

Mr. Assoun then thanked his lawyers, Innocence Canada and the organization’s director of case review, Jerome Kennedy, for helping him to restore his innocence.

The decision means that Mr. Assoun is free of all charges related to the murder of Brenda Way and should not have spent 16 years behind bars, protesting his innocence all the while.

In the decision that triggered today’s dramatic series of events, the Department of Justice made an explicit finding that relevant and reliable evidence was not disclosed to Mr. Assoun during his criminal process.

“Retrying Glen Assoun against the backdrop of this massive miscarriage of justice would have been unconscionable,” said Mr. Campbell. “It is well past the time for the tremendous suffering Glen has endured to come to an end.”

Mr. Assoun expressed immediate relief this morning that his innocence has been restored.

“I’ve been telling anyone and everyone who would listen for over twenty years that I am an innocent man. Thank God somebody finally heard me. Thank you Minister Lametti you gave me my life back.”

Mr. Assoun, 63, was convicted in the 1995 murder of his former girlfriend, Brenda Way. Ms. Way had been stabbed to death in a laneway.

Mr. Assoun was released under restrictive bail conditions in 2014, after the federal Criminal Convictions Review Group (CCRG) concluded that there was a reasonable possibility that he had been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

The CCRG has spent the past four years closely scrutinizing fresh evidence in the case.

“The relief of having a murder conviction quashed is almost indescribable,” said Innocence Canada co-president Ron Dalton, who served 10 years in prison before his own murder conviction was quashed. “Glen has suffered tremendously and deserves to be fully exonerated with all speed.”

Mr. Assoun is the 24^th wrongly convicted individual freed with the help of Innocence Canada.

“Behind this seemingly sudden cascade of events lie many years of hard slogging by a skilled, dogged team of Innocence Canada lawyers,” said IC co-president Kirk Makin. “As grateful as we are for this outcome, our current system of restoring innocence is horribly convoluted and lengthy.

“Wrongful convictions happen,” he said. “They will always happen. Reversing them is an incredibly long, under-funded, arduous slog.” 

The Department of Justice’s review of Mr. Assoun’s conviction was triggered by an extensive application filed by Innocence Canada lawyers. The application included substantial fresh evidence indicating that Mr. Assoun was wrongly convicted at his 1999 trial.

Under the S. 696.1 procedure, convicted persons who have exhausted the court appeal process can apply for a new trial provided they can furnish fresh, cogent evidence. The Minister can choose to turn down the application; refer it to a provincial appellate court for rehearing or other disposition based on the new evidence, or direct that the Attorney-General of the province concerned hold a re-trial.

Previous exonerees who went through the lengthy S.696.1 process include Steven Truscott and Romeo Phillion.

“Today, the Minister has returned the precious constitutional presumption of innocence to Glen Assoun,” said Mr. MacDonald. “In ordering a new trial, he has used the most powerful tool at his disposal. Glen is no longer a convicted killer.”

The CCRG investigation turned up evidence of official misconduct that could have led to the conviction being reversed more than a decade ago. Notwithstanding today’s developments, this evidence remains under a publication ban.

Co-counsel Phil Campbell said that today’s ministerial decision was based on, “new and extremely powerful evidence that has come to light during the course of this application and the government’s subsequent re-examination of the case.”

Mr. Campbell said he is prevented from releasing details of the seriously tainted evidence in the case because of court-ordered publication bans, as well as a confidentiality agreement between Innocence Canada and the CCRG.

“Information that will be revealed in the courtroom in days and months to come will shock Canadians,” Mr. Campbell said. “Anybody who assumes that our justice system no longer convicts the innocent is in for a rude awakening.”

Mr. Makin urged the news media to undertake whatever legal challenges may be necessary in order to bring all of the evidence to light.

“It is now very much in the public interest that the press is in a position to publish this information,” he said. “Miscarriages of justice will occur again and again unless we examine their root causes and learn from these horrendous mistakes. Full scrutiny of the conduct of authorities in this case is long overdue.”

Ms. Way was found dead in Dartmouth, N.S. On Nov. 12, 1995. She had been stabbed to death. ‎

Mr. Assoun voluntarily surrendered to police in 1998. Despite vehemently asserting his innocence, he was initially charged with first-degree murder but was committed to stand trial on second degree murder at the conclusion of the Preliminary Hearing. Unable to obtain a lawyer for his trial, Mr. Assoun represented himself.

Convicted of second degree murder on Sept. 17, 1999, Mr. Assoun was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole until he had completed serving 18 and a half years behind bars.

Mr. Assoun loudly protested his innocence throughout his trial, including at the moment of his conviction. Innocence Canada launched an internal review of his case soon after Mr. Assoun contacted Innocence Canada pleading for help.

The organization adopts cases where it concludes that an applicant is likely to be innocent. In Mr. Assoun’s case, the organization believes that the fresh evidence points overwhelmingly to Mr. Assoun being innocent in the murder of Ms. Way.

In 2013, Innocence Canada filed an application for ministerial review.  In 2014 the Department of Justice released a preliminary report that found, ‘there may be a reasonable basis to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred.”

On Nov. 24, 2014, based on this conclusion, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court released Mr. Assoun on bail. One of the conditions imposed was that he wear an electronic ankle bracelet at all times to enable authorities to track his movements.

“The heinous conduct that characterized this case cannot remain in the dark,” added Mr. MacDonald. “The Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service is fully aware of all the underlying information supporting the Minister’s decision today. To re-prosecute this case would have compounded a grave mistake that stole two decades of Glen’s life from him.”

The organization is urging a complete investigation into other suspects who were identified but ignored so that Ms. Way’s killer may be brought to justice – which Innocence Canada believes is still possible.

The Assoun case represents a tragic bookend to the first murder exoneration of modern times in the Donald Marshall case, Mr. Campbell observed.

“Almost four decades after Donald Marshall was exonerated of murder in this province, the specter of what happened to him remains,” he said. 

“We are grateful for the decision of Mr. Lametti and the work of his advisors but saddened at the personal toll the case has taken on an innocent man and the need, once again, to relearn the lessons of the past.”

For further information or comment, please contact Innocence Canada co-counsel Phil Campbell (416-847-2560; or Sean MacDonald (416-606-3017).

Bail Granted: Wade Skiffington

INNOCENCE CANADA PRESS RELEASE‎ – January 23, 2019

WADE SKIFFINGTON – BAIL GRANTED DURING MINISTER OF JUSTICE’S INVESTIGATION OF HIS MURDER CONVICTION 

Vancouver, BC: In a dramatic breakthrough in one of Canada’s most notorious wrongful conviction cases, Wade Skiffington has been released on bail while the Minister of Justice conducts a full investigation into whether his conviction was a miscarriage of justice.  

On January 23, 2019, the Honourable Justice Michael Tammen, of the British Columbia Supreme Court, in Vancouver, BC, ordered that Mr. Skiffington be released to live with his family in Newfoundland and Labrador while the Minister’s investigation is underway.  

Following Justice Tammen’s decision, Phil Campbell, of Innocence Canada, said “This is a great day. As dreadful as wrongful convictions are, it is deeply gratifying when they start to be recognized and corrected. The Minister of Justice’s determination that this case may be a miscarriage of justice was the first step in that process. Today’s ruling that Wade can live with his family and loved ones while the process unfolds is the second. We look forward to the day when the courts recognize that he is innocent.”

Mr. Skiffington, age 53, has been in prison for more than 17 years for the murder of his fiancée, Wanda Martin, a crime that he vehemently insists that he did not commit. Before and since his legally dubious “Mr. Big” confession, Mr. Skiffington has always maintained his innocence. Despite being a model prisoner, he has been denied parole because he will not participate in correctional programming that he perceives requires him to admit guilt for a crime he did not commit – the classic “prisoner’s dilemma” or “Catch 22”. Following Justice Tammen’s decision granting him bail, Mr. Skiffington expressed the hope that his seemingly interminable nightmare may finally be coming to and end.

On June 14, 2017, Mr. Skiffington filed an application pursuant to Part XXI.1 of the Criminal Code for Ministerial Review of his conviction. On June 7, 2018, the Department of Justice’s Criminal Convictions Review Group (CCRG) concluded that there was a reasonable possibility Mr. Skiffington could have been the victim of a miscarriage of justice and has commenced a full investigation into his case. 

Under Part XXI.1, convicted persons who have exhausted the courts’ appeal process can apply for a review provided they can furnish new and significant information. The Minister can choose to turn down the application; refer it to a provincial appellate court for a fully contested appeal; or direct that a new trial be held. Previous exonerees who went through the lengthy S.696.1 process include Steven Truscott, Robert Baltovich and Romeo Phillion. To date, Innocence Canada (formally known as AIDWYC – the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted) has helped exonerate 22 innocent people. 

The Department of Justice’s review of Mr. Skiffington’s conviction is based largely, although not entirely, on the question of whether the only evidence capable of sustaining the conviction, a confession made during an undercover Mr. Big sting, can be said to be reliable when analyzed in accordance with the Supreme Court of Canada’s seminal decision in R. v. Hart, rendered in 2014. If his confession is deemed to be unreliable, Mr. Skiffington’s conviction cannot stand.  
 
Wanda Martin was shot multiple times in a friend’s apartment building in Richmond, B.C. on September 6, 1994. Her fiancé Wade Skiffington immediately became the subject of police scrutiny, as many domestic partners naturally are, but there was never any forensic evidence tying him to the offence and independent third-party witnesses readily established that he had a credible alibi and no realistic opportunity to commit the offence. Mr. Skiffington was completely co-operative with police in the aftermath of Wanda’s homicide, providing them with multiple statements and permitting a search of his residence. Residents who lived close to the crime scene reported a man, who was not Wade Skiffington, behaving in a very suspicious manner in the neighbourhood shortly after the homicide. 

Innocence Canada believes that the police investigation into Wanda Martin’s murder was a classic case of tunnel-vision, a known cause of wrongful convictions, and that police failed to pursue alternative suspects and rudimentary avenues of investigation that may well have resulted in the apprehension of the person who killed Wanda Martin. Instead, with their focus solely on Wade Skiffington, in 2000, six years after Wanda’s murder, police initiated a costly, intricate and violent “Mr. Big” undercover operation where they posed as gangsters – all in an attempt to coerce a confession from Mr. Skiffington. Under immense pressure, and with a genuine fear of violent repercussions if he did not tell the undercover boss what he wanted to hear, Wade Skiffington confessed to a crime he did not commit. That confession, without any corroborating evidence, and with many details that showed it to be false, resulted in Mr. Skiffington’s conviction and a life sentence with no chance of parole for 13 years.   

Following Justice Tammen’s decision granting Mr. Skiffington’s release from custody, Tamara Duncan, of Innocence Canada, co-counsel for Mr. Skiffington, stated, “In 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized in the Hart decision that the Mr. Big investigative technique could become abusive and could produce unreliable confessions which are a known cause of wrongful convictions. We have long believed that this is precisely what happened in Wade’s case and that the Mr. Big sting targeting him coerced a false confession which resulted in his wrongful conviction. Wade’s fight to clear his name is far from over, but today’s ruling in an important step in this process.”

Mr. Campbell added: “Mr. Big has a unique capacity to get suspects talking but it also has a powerful potential to distort the truth and elicit false confessions. This case, with such coercive tactics and so little confirmation, is an example of the technique at its worst. It’s the kind of case for which the Supreme Court of Canada formulated new legal rules in 2014.”

For further information or comment, please contact Innocence Canada co-counsel Phil Campbell (416-579-3321; or Tamara Duncan (778-998-7950).

Frank Ostrowski – Conviction Quashed

On November 27, 2018 the Manitoba Court of Appeal released its decision quashing Frank Ostrowski’s 1987 first-degree murder conviction.

The court found that it would be unfair to order a second trial after so long and entered a judicial stay of proceedings on his behalf.

Innocence Canada co-founder and lead counsel, James Lockyer, when speaking to the media about the court’s decision said it clears Mr. Ostrowski’s name and adds him to the annals of Canada’s wrongful convictions.  Mr. Ostrowski is free of prison and bail conditions for the first time in more than three decades.

Mr. Lockyer went on to add:

“However, once again, there will be no accountability in this case.  The man spent 32 years under a first-degree murder claim, 23 of them in prison, and no one’s accountable for that 32 years except him.  It’s a familiar refrain in wrongful conviction cases”

For Mr. Ostrowski, at long last the stringent conditions he has been made to live under since being released on bail in December 2009 by the Court of Queen’s Bench are gone.

Innocence Canada submitted a s.696.1 (ministerial review) application on behalf of Mr. Ostrowski to the former Federal Minister of Justice, Peter MacKay who in 2014 determined that there was a likely miscarriage of justice in his case.  Justice Minister MacKay referred his case to the Manitoba Court of Appeal for a conviction review which concluded on May 28, 2018.

Mr. Ostrowski has had a very difficult and stressful 32 years; we can only hope that bright days are ahead for him.

O’Neil Blackett: Innocence Canada’s 22nd Exoneree

On October 2, 2018, O’Neil Blackett joined the Innocence Canada family as the 22^nd person to be exonerated with the support of Innocence Canada. O’Neil’s day in court fell on another important day for the wrongly convicted around the globe, the 5^th annual wrongful conviction day.

O’Neil is yet another victim of the now disgraced former pathologist Charles Smith. On February 10, 1999, O’Neil was arrested and charged for the death of his 13 month old daughter, Tamara, which took place two days earlier while he was babysitting her. The Crown alleged that Tamara died from asphyxiation caused by O’Neil.

Charles Smith performed the autopsy and testified at the preliminary hearing. In August of 2001, facing the possibility of being convicted of second degree murder, O’Neil did as many other innocent individuals have done, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to three years and three months in addition to the 15 months he spent in pre-trial custody.

O’Neil was granted an extension of time to file an appeal by the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In 2017, the Crown consented to granting O’Neil a new trial, and on October 2, 2018, the Crown withdrew their charges against him.

The day following the court’s decision, Innocence Canada hosted a reception to acknowledge its 25th Anniversary and Wrongful Conviction Day. O’Neil was ecstatic to attend. He joined the other wrongly convicted in attendance and marched with them as they were led in by bagpiper Rory Gus Sinclair to Convocation Hall at the Law Society of Ontario. O’Neil was welcomed with uproarious applause by the wrongly convicted and all those in attendance as he proudly held up a T-shirt gifted to him that read “INNOCENT” on the front and had a list of names of the wrongly convicted, including his, on the back.

It was a moment that the wrongly convicted, their families, Innocence Canada and their supporters will never forget and will be remembered at each future Wrongful Conviction Day reception.

O’Neil can now move forward and pursue his dreams, aspirations and goals that for far too long didn’t seem possible because of the incompetence of Charles Smith.

We are incredibly humbled by O’Neil’s strength throughout his lengthy involvement in the criminal justice system. We congratulate both O’Neil and his lawyer, James Lockyer, for their dedication and victory.

We wish O’Neil Blackett and his family a bright, happy and fulfilling future.

Wrongful Conviction Day – October 2nd, 2018

25 Years

21 Exonerations

 5^th Annual Wrongful Conviction Day

Innocence Canada recognizing milestone anniversaries

On October 3, 2018, Innocence Canada will be celebrating its 25^th Anniversary and the 5^th Anniversary of International Wrongful Conviction Day (WCD) at a reception at the Law Society of Upper Canada, 130 Queen Street, West, Toronto.

Wrongful Conviction Day has provided a rich opportunity for individuals and organizations around the world who are committed to the battle against wrongful convictions, to organize programs aimed at drawing attention to injustices, rallying support against them and providing public education.

The evening’s programme will be opened and closed by exonerees.

Innocence Canada will be presenting the 4^th annual Rubin Hurricane Carter Champion of Justice Award and the 4^th annual Tracey Tyler Award but in addition to these two prestigious awards will be the presentation of the first Donald Marshall Junior Award.  This award will be given to an exoneree who has through their courage, determination, tenacity and unwillingness to give up or give in been able to go the distance in proving their innocence.

One of Innocence Canada’s founding members and criminal defence lawyer James Lockyer will reflect on the past 25 years of the organization’s important work on behalf of the wrongly convicted.  Also speaking will be criminal defence lawyer, humanitarian and former Innocence Canada Director, Marlys Edwardh.

Innocence Canada once again will be joining an increasing number of innocence organizations from around the world as well as individuals, businesses, schools, and other members of the public to recognize the 5^th Anniversary of WCD which was launched by Innocence Canada on October 2, 2014. 

Cities from across Canada have been signing proclamations in support of WCD and landmarks around the world will be illuminated in recognition of the wrongly convicted and their battle for freedom and exoneration

WCD is designed to encourage the participation of the public and organizations. Faith communities, representatives of all levels of government and educational institutes will set aside time to focus on the causes and remedies concerning wrongful convictions, an issue that affects and devastates individuals and societies worldwide. This can be achieved through media releases, book signings, magazine articles, opinion pieces for daily newspapers, interviews, phone-in talk shows, educational forums, presentations by exonerees, faith community services, vigils, film festivals, Twitter, Facebook and You Tube videos.

Frank and open discussion about the causes of wrongful convictions can lead to positive change in our criminal justice systems and help reduce future wrongful convictions.

Background on Innocence Movement

Since its inception in 1993, Innocence Canada has helped in the exonerations of 21 Canadians.  These innocent individuals combined spent more than 190 years in prison.  Innocence Canada has 81 cases currently under review and is undertaking a major project over the coming year to cut into this backlog.

In the United States, the National Registry of Exonerations recorded 139 exonerations in 2017.  Spending a combined total of 1,473 years in prison. The National Registry has recorded 2,161 known exonerations since 1989. Exonerations in 2017 set record numbers of the most murder exonerations with official misconduct and false confessions as the primary reasons for their wrongful convictions.

For more information and interview requests for exonerees and Innocence Canada representatives please contact:

Win Wahrer

• Innocence Canada
• Toll free: 1-800-249-1329 x 227
• In Toronto: 416-504-7500 x 227
• Cell: 416-459-2065

WCD is supported and sponsored by the Criminal Lawyers Association, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Law Foundation of Ontario, Legal Aid Ontario, educational institutions, law offices and many others.

Follow us on social media:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/innocencecanada
• Twitter: @innocencecanada

Congratulations to IC volunteer, Woojin

CONGRATULATIONS WOOJIN ON YOUR ACCEPTANCE INTO HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Innocence Canada wishes to extend their congratulations to Woojin Lim of Vancouver, British Columbia who is the youngest member of our volunteer team.

For the past two years Woojin has been an integral part of and contributing member of Innocence Canada’s Wrongful Conviction Day (WCD) Student/Volunteer Committee.

Win Wahrer met Woojin at Victoria College where he attended her presentation on wrongful convictions.  Woojin was inspired by what he heard.  He expressed to Win that he had an interest in volunteering with Innocence Canada. 

Upon his return to Vancouver, Woojin immediately started raising awareness about wrongful convictions and WCD at his school, with his MLA and in his community.

Woojin’s energy is boundless as he fundraised, accumulated signatures for a federal petition, requested landmark illuminations, and approached cities and towns to sign proclamations recognizing October 2^nd as WCD.  Listed are some of Woojin’s other efforts to raise awareness:

• Woojin approached Canada’s Minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould at a youth forum in Vancouver to discuss wrongful convictions;
• Woojin reached out to the University of British Columbia Innocence Project about hosting a WCD event;
• Woojin worked for the summer as administrative assistant at the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia branch and spread awareness about wrongful convictions to anyone who would listen; and
• Woojin made presentations at his school to the social studies and law classes. 

Woojin is creative, innovative and is a visionary.

Woojin is a highly intelligent, motivated, passionate and compassionate young man.  He is also a good communicator, role model, and tireless advocate for the causes he believes in.

Innocence Canada is grateful for his tireless efforts and significant contribution to its organization.  We are inspired by Woojin’s commitment and dedication to supporting the work we do on behalf of the innocent.

Woojin is an exemplary human being, student, scholar and humanitarian. 

We have no doubt that Woojin will be a positive influence at Harvard University and in his new community. 

We hope that he will continue to share the stories of the wrongly convicted and encourage Harvard to participate in Wrongful Conviction Day 2018.

Harvard is fortunate to have a student who possesses the best qualities of a future leader.

Please read the following article that pays tribute to Woojin and his road to Harvard University or words to that effect.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/impressive-teen-has-already-solved-one-puzzle-by-choosing-harvard-over-yale

Dedication of Donald Marshall Jr. Centre for Justice and Reconciliation

Author: Win Wahrer

A ceremony was held on June 21, 2018 to open a superior court on the Wagmatcook Reserve. The court is located inside the Wagmatcook Cultural and Heritage Centre in Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia. This court is believed to be the first of its type in Canada.

The establishment of the court follows a recommendation from the 1989 “Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Donald Marshall Junior Prosecution” to have more provincial court sittings on Nova Scotia reserves. This recommendation was echoed most recently by the 2015 “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.”

The Donald Marshall Junior Centre for Justice and Reconciliation will house a provincial court and the family division of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court which will incorporate indigenous restorative justice traditions and customs including a Healing and Wellness Court and Gladue court.

Ron Dalton and Win Wahrer represented Innocence Canada and its clients at the unveiling which was even more significant because it took place on the Indigenous People’s Day.

Ron and Win were humbled and honoured to be at this historical occasion in memory of their friend and the first Canadian recognized as wrongly convicted. Junior inspired and gave hope to other wrongly convicted people to continue the fight to clear their names.

The ceremony and the unveiling were extremely moving and respectful to Donald Marshall Junior’s memory. Tributes were paid to him, his family and the Mi’kmaq people. 

Fifty of Donald Marshall Junior’s family, Mi’kmaq Chiefs, friends, supporters and performers were in attendance along with dignitaries from all levels of the Nova Scotia government, judiciary and Mi’kmaq community.

Nova Scotia Chief Justice Michael MacDonald who was in attendance and addressed the attendees said that “a justice system steeped in racism let Donald Marshall Jr. down at every stage.  We cannot, judges, ever forget that. Those who work in our justice system can never forget that.”

Wagmatcook First Nation Chief Norman Bernard said “this is truly a historic day for the Mi’kmaq and the province of Nova Scotia. It’s an example of reconciliation with Indigenous people through the courts and will reflect Mi’kmaq values.

Marlys Edwardh, one of Donald Marshall Junior’s lawyers and former Innocence Canada Board member, returned the repatriation feather to Nova Scotia. The feather had been given to her on her 60^th birthday by Junior’s long-time friend Jane McMillan who Junior had given it to. Junior had been given the feather by fellow exoneree, Wilson Nepoose. The feather, a sacred symbol of First Nations culture was given back to the Mi’kmaq people. The feather will remain in the courthouse as a reminder of the injustice that was done to Junior, his family and the Mi’kmaq in the hopes that such an injustice will never happen again.

Also taking part in the feather ceremony was lawyer, Stephen Aronson who was responsible for Donald Marshall Junior’s ultimate vindication and Justice Anne Derrick who represented Donald Marshall Junior at the 1989 Commission of Inquiry into his wrongful conviction.

It was clear that no one who observed or took part in the ceremony has forgotten the gross injustice that lead to forgiveness and collaboration between the Mi’kmaq people and the province.

The presiding judge of the new court is Justice Laurie Halfpenny-MacQuarrie who worked closely with the local Aboriginal Chiefs to bring the idea of the court into reality. The court will sit every Wednesday.

Submissions on Criminal Justice Reform

Innocence Canada is grateful for the opportunity to contribute ideas to the Minister of Justice for legislative reforms directed to the prevention and correction of miscarriages of justice. As an organization that has closely examined many wrongful convictions, we believe we can bring a valuable perspective to the process of improving the law of evidence, the conduct of trials and the appellate process. This report examines the rationale behind the 13 recommendations on criminal justice reform made by Innocence Canada. Each recommendation falls under one of five broader issues:

• statement of defendants;
• guilty pleas of innocent defendants;
• eyewitness identification;
• the appellate role in correcting wrongful convictions; and
• the failure of the defendant to testify.

These recommendations were determined by reviewing the systemic, social, and psychological issues at the heart of each barrier, proven best practices to limit these issues, and the review of cases of wrongly convicted Canadians.

Read the full submission here.

Innocence Canada on Criminal Justice Reform

This document summarizes the 13 recommendations on criminal justice reform made by Innocence Canada on June 9, 2017.

Click here to read the summary of recommendations.

For a detailed rationale on each recommendation, refer to the full submission found here.

Job Posting – Director of Operations

Location: Toronto, Ontario
Target Start Date: March/April  2023
Pay Rate: Range of $80,000 – $90,000 + plus benefits
Employment Type: Contract – 12 Months Maternity Cover/ Full-time

Background

LJC Recruit Inc. has been engaged exclusively to recruit this exciting role on behalf of Innocence Canada & the Innocence Canada Foundation.

Innocence Canada is a Canadian, non-profit organization dedicated to identifying, advocating for, and exonerating individuals convicted of a crime that they did not commit. 

Director of Operations

In this compelling opportunity, you will provide oversight in the following areas:

Financial Management:  Working closely with our accounts, bookkeeper, and Finance Committee. Responsible for the management and regular review of any expenditures and revenue, review of cash flows and supporting our auditors. Responsible to develop the Annual Budget, monitoring the investment portfolio, and filing of all necessary reports to the CRA for charitable funds. 

Human Resources: Coordination of all HR functions, including internal communication memos, training policies, employee contracts (ensuring that all employee contracts comply with employment law provisions, with internal equity objectives and with all IC Human Resources policies), management of the employee benefits program, coordinate, maintain and ensure performance management deadlines are met.  Arranges payment of Law Society fees and verifies Lawyer’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours.

Grants Management and New Grant Development:  Research of potential funders, drafting of grant applications, monitoring and reporting on grant payments.   Supports other staff & Directors with fundraising efforts.  Providing any needed material to attract funders.  Develops and maintains relationships with potential funders.

Risk Management:  Ensuring and maintaining appropriate D&O and E&O insurance coverage for the IC and ICF Boards and legal staff insurance. Assesses risk for all areas of operations.

Facilities Management: Ensuring lease compliance, and addressing other facilities issues with the landlord.

Technology Management: Management of the external technology service provider, including contract negotiation. 

Board and Committee Support:  Scheduling of both Boards and Committee Meetings,  preparation of agendas, and preparation of minutes.

Corporate Governance:  Manage the corporate books and records, ensuring compliance with applicable legislative and regulatory requirements.

Co-ordination of Planning and Reporting: Prepare the Annual Business Plan, quarterly financial reports on the Budget year to date and year-end financials.

Event Planning: Support to and coordination with the Director of Client Services related to event planning, including preparation of materials/presentations, invitations, support to media outreach and response.

General: Responsible for office communications and oversight of the website.

Other Duties as assigned.

To Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to:  lisajoycochrane@gmail.com