Legal Aid Ontario is expanding a program that assists Aboriginal people who are before the courts at the sentencing stage in criminal matters.  Over 467-thousand dollars is being provided to Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto for four additional Gladue report writers to serve the northeastern communities of Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and North Bay as well as Windsor.  Gladue reports highlight the systemic factors that may have brought an Aboriginal person before the court and each report is unique reflecting individual life experiences.  Alain Prevost is with Legal Aid Ontario in Sudbury and he says the program will help to address the over incarceration of Aboriginal people in Ontario…

Prevost is with Legal Aid Ontario in Sudbury and he says a Supreme Court decision in ’99 paved the way for the program…

He talks about the program’s success…

Based on the content of the report, a judge can consider alternatives to incarceration including restorative justice programs.  This allows for sentences that focus on healing and helping offenders within their community.