Gladue report services to expand in Ontario

TORONTO, June 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto (ALST), the acknowledged best practice leader in providing Gladue services, is expanding its Gladue report writing program with an additional $1 million in funding over two years from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO).

The funding will allow ALST to hire new caseworkers and offer Gladue report writing services in new locations. The funding will also allow ALST to hire a new aftercare worker in Brantford.

Gladue reports detail the unique life circumstances of First Nation, Metis, and Inuit people and offer recommendations for sentencing given their circumstances. Starting in 2014, ALST will hire a new aftercare worker in Brantford and start offering Gladue report services in the following locations:

• Ottawa
• Oshawa - Peterborough - Lindsay
• St. Catherines -- Niagara Falls
• Barrie - Orillia.

ALST currently employs five case workers in Toronto, Brantford-Hamilton, Waterloo-Wellington and Sarnia. They write Gladue reports at the request of defence counsel, crown attorneys or judges. ALST also employs two Gladue aftercare workers, who help clients meet the conditions of their sentences. This new investment is part of LAO's Aboriginal Justice Strategy, which is part of LAO's ongoing commitment to enhance access to justice and legal services to First Nation, Metis and Inuit people in Ontario.

QUOTES

"We know that there is a great demand for this service in these areas because we regularly receive requests we cannot honour. We are very appreciative of Legal Aid Ontario's longstanding support of the program and especially for the funds to permit the expansion of our services."

Jonathan Rudin
Program Director at ALST

"Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto are leaders in the area of Gladue service delivery. We hope this new investment will help serve Aboriginal clients better. Improving access to Gladue services is an important part of Legal Aid Ontario's Aboriginal Justice Strategy."

John McCamus
Legal Aid Ontario Chair

QUICK FACTS

• ALST is a multi-service agency serving Toronto's Aboriginal community since 1990.
  
  
• ALST offers many programs including advocacy, Aboriginal court workers and inquests.
  
  
• Legal Aid Ontario funds 76 community legal clinics in the province.
  
  
• LAO's Aboriginal Justice Strategy aims to achieve measurable improvements in service to Aboriginal people.

LEARN MORE

• Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto - www.aboriginallegal.ca
  
  
• More information on Gladue - www.aboriginallegal.ca/#!more-info-on-gladue/c20e
  
  
• LAO's Aboriginal Justice Strategy - www.legalaid.on.ca/en/policy/aboriginaljustice.asp
  
  
  
  

SOURCE: Legal Aid Ontario

For further information:

QUESTIONS

Jonathan Rudin
Program Director, Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto
Tel: [phone] ext. 226
Email: [e-mail]

Josephine Li
Communications Advisor, Legal Aid Ontario
Tel: [phone] ext. 6015
Email: [e-mail]