NCJ Number
168162
Date Published
1996
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes the work of Brian and Gary Shanks, who work for Canada's Native Counselling Services, which provides help to Natives who need help negotiating the often baffling court system.
Abstract
The Shanks brothers help Natives access lawyers or legal aid, explain some of the options they have, or help them raise bail. Although they are not lawyers, they act as agents for people in the courtroom, arranging adjournments, and speaking in sentencing hearings. Their day starts early, with a visit to the Remand Centre to see if anyone just arrested wants help from Native Counselling Services. Their clients come from a number of other sources as well, including lawyers and families. They spend much of the morning and afternoon running between docket court, trials, and even the Alberta Court of Appeal, where they are occasionally asked to make a statement about the appropriateness of a sentence. Their clients vary, from the frightened young person from a small northern community facing his first charge, to veterans of the criminal justice system. For some clients, Native Counselling Services is their only tie to an advocate who understands their background and their distinctive needs as a Native.