Chris Young Archives The Canadian Press David Milgaard spent 23 years behind bars for a miscarriage of justice.
A new bill introduced in the Commons on Thursday would make it easier and faster to review claims from Canadians who claim to be the victims of a miscarriage of justice.
The legislation has been dubbed “David and Joyce Milgaard,” named after the Canadian who was released in 1980 after being wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years, and his mother Joyce, who fought tirelessly all those years to get him released.
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The federal government stresses that it is rare for miscarriages of justice to occur, but that a formal process should be put in place to analyze these cases.
The bill provides for the creation an independent commission to review, investigate and decide which criminal cases should be referred to the courts.
The government says applicants for review should first exhaust all their rights of appeal before applying to this independent commission.
Innocence Canada, l he nonprofit that defends people who claim they were wrongfully convicted, says it has helped exonerate 24 people since 1993.
