LAO funds Impact of Race and Culture Assessments
Pre-sentencing reports available for Black and other racialized legal aid clients
Published: March 7, 2023
Click here to download image. Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is funding pre-sentencing reports, known as Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCA), to help address systemic racism and discrimination faced by Black and other racialized people in the criminal justice system.
The Government of Canada has recently announced that it is providing LAO with up to $1.4 million over five years for the cost of producing IRCA reports.
IRCAs are a valuable tool to help judges consider the impact of racism, poverty and discrimination on individuals facing criminal charges. The report helps the judge arrive at an appropriate and just sentence.
LAO will fund reports for Black legal aid clients facing more than two years in jail and for Black youths facing custodial sentences. LAO will also fund reports for other racialized legal aid clients under similar circumstances if the court orders it.