Best Interests of the Child in the Adult Criminal Process: Colloquium Report, Project Evaluation, and Next Steps

Part 1 of this document summarizes the proceedings of a Colloquium on the Best Interests of the Child in Sentencing and Other Decisions Concerning Parents Facing Criminal Sanctions, convened at UBC Allard School of Law on June 4, 2024, by the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform, the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth, and the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver.

Part 2 of this document provides an evaluation of the current phase of a broader project (“the project”) on the same theme, of which the Colloquium is part. The project has been supported by a generous project grant from the Vancouver Foundation, in which the International Centre and EFry have partnered with the Canadian Coalition For Children With Incarcerated Parents. The project’s objective is to instigate and support a systemic and cultural change in the way that the best interests of the child are considered by defence counsel, the prosecution and the courts. The ultimate intention is to mitigate the negative impact on the child of a parent facing criminal sanctions, especially when the parent/legal guardian is a primary or sole caregiver.

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