Education Seminar - British Columbia 2017

Overview

This seminar focused on issues common to the judiciary in British Columbia, including understanding and dealing with gang-related crime, the impacts of sentencing along with social context and mental health issues in the courtroom.

Objectives

The objective of the seminar was to provide participants with an understanding of the law and social context of sentencing including enhanced skills applying Gladueprinciples and to provide a jurisprudential update on developments in civil, criminal and family law. It examined complex issues in the area of mental health to assist judges in better responding to individuals with mental health issues, managing the risks from toxic evidence, and handling difficult criminal cases.

Summary

This seminar was led by judges from each of the British Columbia Courts, using a combination of presentations and interactive sessions. They provided in-depth, practical advice to participants on sentencing, courtroom management, accommodation of disabilities and the mental health risks of difficult cases. This information was supplemented by expertise from outside the judiciary, experts who have studied and dealt with gang-affected individuals first hand, leading academics on recidivism and the considerations at play when sentencing Indigenous offenders, and medical experts on mental health.