Promote and support the implementation of Gladue reports in sentencing.

Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network: Making significant progress on training and hiring for Gladue writers

The Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network (NAWN) started a Gladue Writer Training Program which has significantly increased the number of trained Gladue writers in the province. In June 2024, NAWN posted two employment positions for salaried Gladue writers, one in Stephenville and one in Goose Bay. They have recruited 10 writers throughout the province on a fee-for-service basis. NAWN has also launched a portal for legal representatives to request Gladue reports, which has the potential to greatly increase their use in the justice system in Newfoundland and Labrador. NAWN has identified several remaining barriers to ensuring the utility of Gladue reports: (1) the need for more capacity to complete Gladue reports in a timely manner; (2) the current lack of capacity to do Gladue reports at bail; and (3) the lack of awareness among current lawyers, Crown Attorneys and judges that Gladue writers are available.

A lack of process to connect accused Indigenous individuals with Gladue writers and alternative sanctions continues to create barriers for Indigenous individuals in the justice system. Currently, there is no long-term public funding for Gladue reports in Newfoundland and Labrador, no process in place for identifying Indigenous individuals in the justice system in order to connect them with Gladue writers and culturally appropriate alternative sanctions, and no funding for support in the pre-sentencing process. This is interrelated with the need for restorative justice programs. (See Call for Change 37.)

The Indigenous Justice Action Circle has begun work with relevant stakeholders, including NAWN and JPS, to create a process to connect Indigenous offenders to trained Gladue writers.

The Law Society: Advocating for a publicly funded Gladue report program

The Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Indigenous Education and Action Committee (IEAC) submitted a proposal to the Minister of Justice and Public Safety in June 2023 endorsing the creation of a Gladue Report Program for the province. Eleven other organizations, including First Light and five other Indigenous organizations and governments, submitted letters in support of the Law Society’s proposal.

For the Department of Justice and Public Safety (JPS): 

• Allocate long-term funding in the upcoming budget cycle to support Gladue writers as important parts of the legal system in NL.
• Develop a process to connect Indigenous offenders with trained Gladue writers.
• Mandate training for all actors in the legal system to improve awareness of Indigenous offenders’ right to request a Gladue report.