The CCLA will appear before the Supreme Court of Canada today as an intervenor in I.M. v. R.. This appeal concerns the test for sentencing a young offender as an adult under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Shakir Rahim, Director of the Criminal Justice Program, made the following statement:
“The Youth Criminal Justice Act protects youth in the criminal justice system, emphasizing their rehabilitation and giving them a second chance. The CCLA will argue before the Supreme Court today that sentencing courts must state and consider two important principles if they are considering sentencing a young person as an adult.
First, young people are always entitled to a presumption of diminished moral blameworthiness, which must be rebutted on a high standard to sentence a youth as an adult. Second, any factor which the prosecution relies on in support of an adult sentence must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
These principles are essential to protect the rights of youth in the sentencing process.”
You can read our factum here.
The CCLA is grateful for the excellent pro bono representation of Samara Secter and Cori Singer of Addario Law Group in this case.
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
