Presenter:
Debra Parkes is a Professor and Chair in Feminist Legal Studies at the Allard School of Law, UBC, where she teaches Constitutional Law, Penal Policy, and Women, Law & Social Change.
Description:
The Courthouse Libraries BC is proud to support the Criminal Defense Advocacy Society (CDAS) in presenting: Rethinking the Constitutionality of Life Sentences for Youth.
The life sentence is an extraordinary sentence that has become normalized within Canadian legal, social, and political discourse, even when applied to young people whose diminished moral responsibility is constitutionally recognized. In this talk, Professor Parkes will argue that it is time to revisit and fundamentally rethink the constitutionality of imposing life sentences on youth. Drawing on the 2025 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in R v I.M., she will discuss relevant constitutional principles and demonstrate how such sentences perpetuate harm and undermine stated penal objectives.
Participants may claim 1.5 CPD credits.
Date and time:
Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
To register:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UDwdXeoETa6ClT_DdfUj4A
Criminal Scholars Series is a co-production of the Criminal Defense Advocacy Society and Courthouse Libraries BC.