Prisoners’ Legal Service and the Criminal Defence Advocacy Society of BC presents
The Realities of Prison or Jail Time in BC
June 19, 2024 at 4:30 – 6 p.m. PT
Join Prisoners’ Legal Services and the Criminal Defence Advocacy Society (CDAS) for this free webinar to learn more about the realities of what it means to be sentenced to federal prison or provincial jail time in BC, the conditions in BC remand centres for people denied bail, and advice for lawyers advocating for clients in these situations. We will share helpful information and resources, including:
- the likelihood of receiving parole before statutory release dates;
- the availability of rehabilitative programs, treatment for drug and alcohol use, health care, mental health supports, and cultural and spiritual services, particularly for Indigenous people;
- the kinds of human rights abuses that are common in prison, such as solitary confinement and violence, and issues faced by marginalized groups, including BIPOC, Deaf, trans, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people;
- sources for statistics, reports, and other authoritative information about prison and jail conditions;
- tactical considerations for lawyers when communicating with prison officials and advocating for a client’s rights in custody; and
- steps lawyer should take before, during, and after a client’s sentencing hearing to protect their client’s interests and prepare them for federal or provincial custody.
Please email Madeline Howarth at MHowarth@pls-bc.ca to register.
Prisoners’ Legal Services administers prison related legal aid to people in federal and BC custody. We assist people with issue that affect their liberty rights under s. 7 of the Charter as well as human rights and health care issues. We assist people with about 3,000 legal issues each year. Find us online at: prisonjustice.org.
CDAS is engaged in advocacy, law reform, and education in matters relating to criminal defence work in the justice system. The Society was founded in 2015 by members of the BC criminal defence bar who identified a gap in the area of law reform for criminal justice issues specifically affecting criminal defence lawyers and their clients. Find out more at cdasociety.com.