Principled Justice for Indigenous Peoples? An Empirical Analysis of the Application of Gladue Factors in Canadian Lower Courts

Abstract

This article examines section 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code, which is aimed at reducing the imprisonment of Indigenous offenders and the application of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R. v. Gladue. Using court observation of docket court sentencing, this article demonstrates that the restrictive context of the lower court sentencing environment, along with the complexity of the sentencing task, influences and reduces the number and kinds of Gladue sentencing factors considered and restricts a judge’s ability to appropriately weigh the factors that ought to play a meaningful role in Indigenous sentencing. Drawing from research literature from the fields of behavioural economics and psychology about cognitive bias, heuristics, and the use of stereotypes, the findings of this study suggest that, faced with these circumstances, judges may rely on heuristics and form judgments about a defendant’s character and their potential future behaviour. In this way, stereotypes relating to offenders’ race permeate their sentencing decisions. The findings that Indigenous sentencing principles are not being employed in a principled way have important implications for the legitimacy of our legal institutions.