Federal Government Introduces New Commission to Review Wrongful Convictions

The federal justice minister has announced the creation of a new commission that will focus on reviewing potential wrongful convictions, with a particular emphasis on helping racialized and Indigenous Peoples who are currently overrepresented in the criminal justice system.

Named Bill C-40, after David Milgaard and his mother, Joyce, the legislation aims to streamline the review process for cases by transferring it from the justice minister to an independent commission. The government believes that this new commission will make the process more efficient, faster, and fairer for individuals who may have been wrongfully convicted.

David Milgaard, who spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, has expressed his support for the new legislation, which was recently passed into law.

Justice Minister Arif Virani emphasized the importance of addressing wrongful convictions, stating that while they are rare, they can have devastating consequences for the accused, their families, and even the victims of the crimes. He noted that in the past two decades, there have been 200 applications for wrongful convictions, resulting in 30 cases being overturned. However, none of these cases involved women, and only seven included individuals from racialized communities, despite their disproportionate representation in the criminal justice system.

Under the new legislation, individuals claiming wrongful convictions will have access to the necessary resources, funding, and support to aid in their cases. Minister Virani believes that this will help to level the playing field for those seeking justice.

The government has committed to launching the Miscarriage of Justice Review Commission promptly to ensure that it can begin its work as soon as possible. Efforts are already underway to identify potential candidates to fill roles within the new body.