As he sentenced an Indigenous man — who has been in and out of custody most of his life — to yet another prison term last week, a Toronto judge couldn’t help but ask: “To what end?”
Ontario Court Justice André Chamberlain called into question the usefulness of the correctional system and the lack of community supports as he sentenced Jayson Pothier to three years for breaking and entering and robbery in a ruling that experts say demonstrates a growing judicial frustration with the inability of prisons to actually rehabilitate people.
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The case is “emblematic of how we view the criminal justice system” as a way of addressing social problems it was never meant or equipped to handle: mental health issues, substance use disorders, and poverty, said criminal defence lawyer Michael Spratt, who is not involved in the case.mental health issues, substance use disorders, and poverty, said criminal defence lawyer Michael Spratt, who is not involved in the case.
“And we know that it’s terrible at doing all of those things,” he said. “I think there is a growing judicial frustration with a lack of treatment options and a lack of proper conditions.”
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Read Jaques Gallant’s full story: Toronto Star
