Do pre-sentencing reports really help Black offenders in Canada’s justice system?

By Camisha Sibblis (Special to BHN) Canadian courts are increasingly applying Impact of Race and Culture Assessment reports (IRCAs), otherwise known as Enhanced Pre-Sentence Reports, when sentencing offenders. IRCA reports help sentencing judges better understand how systemic racism has influenced and even limited the offender’s life choices and trajectory. Their use has been much debated