To Right Historical Wrongs ― Race, Gender, and Sentencing in Canada

Murdocca (sociology, York University) highlights section 718.2(e) of the Canadian Criminal Code and examines how historical injustice and current forms of marginalization of aboriginal people are taken into account in criminal sentencing. The Canadian Supreme Court in 2012 considered the case of R. v. Ipeele vis-a-vis section 718.2(e) and ruled that judicial consideration must be given to colonial history, aboriginal displacement and residential schools and how they translate into educational deficits, lower incomes, higher unemployment, higher rates of substance abuse and suicide, and higher incarceration rates. She cites how the good intentions of 718.2(e) are rendered ineffective in the face of the current government's "law and order" phase, mandatory minimum sentences, and continued racialization of the criminal justice system. She examines the racial and gender implications for indigenous men and woman, and black women. There are four chapters: culture and reparative justice; from incarceration to restoration; her aboriginal connections; and racial injustice and righting historical wrongs. This concise, interesting, and readable book is for scholars and students of the law, sociologists and historians. There are notes and a bibliography. US distribution is by U. of Washington Press. Canadian distribution is by U. of Toronto Press. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Carmela Murdocca is associate professor of sociology at York University and a member of York’s graduate programs in sociology, socio-legal studies, and social and political thought.