Wrongful convictions panel will help Indigenous, racialized people: Virani – National [Video]

The federal justice minister says a new commission that will review potential wrongful convictions will help racialized and Indigenous Peoples seek justice who are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.

The law, named after David Milgaard and his mother, Joyce, will move the review process of cases away from the ministers, and will be replaced with an independent commission the government says will make it easier, faster and more fair for the potentially wrongfully convicted.

Milgaard, who served 23 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, began advocating for the wrongfully convicted, and supported the legislation which became law on Tuesday.

Justice Minister Arif Virani says while wrongful convictions are rare, their effect on individuals and their families is a grave injustice for themselves and victims.

He says that over the past 20 years there have been 200 applications arguing wrongful conviction, and 30 cases were eventually overturned.