Innocence Canada is dedicated to increasing the number of continuing legal educational opportunities for police, lawyers, court workers, justices of the peace and the judiciary on topics related to wrongful convictions. 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Events

With the consultations on the development of a Canadian Commission for Criminal Case Review underway, Innocence Canada co-hosted a series of CPD's on international post-conviction reviews.  It is timely to hear from international representatives of already established Criminal Case Review Commissions and Conviction Integrity Units to help shed light on the development of Canada's forthcoming Commission.

Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs): The Evolving Role of US Prosecutors in Uncovering Wrongful Convictions

On September 29, 2021, Innocence Canada co-hosted a webinar with the UBC Innocence Project at the Allard School of Law, the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR), and the Courthouse Libraries BCThe webinar explored the roles, responsibilities, opportunities and challenges that CIUs face in combatting wrongful convictions.  US prosecutors shared practical issues they face in evaluating, investigating and responding to innocence claims and ethical considerations that arose for the prosecution when handling wrongful cases were explored.  Presenters included:

Patricia Cummings, CIU Director of the Philadelphia (PA) District Attorney’s Office

Mark Hale, recently retired CIU Director of the Brooklyn (NY) District Attorney’s Office

Martha Carrillo, CRU Deputy in charge of the Los Angeles (CA) District Attorney’s Office

Arielle Demby Berger, CRU Founder and Assistant State Attorney of the Broward County (FL) State Attorney’s Office

The Program contains 1 hour and 30 minutes of Professionalism Content accredited by the Law Society of Ontario. Watch the program below.

Criminal Conviction Review Commissions

On September 23rd 2021, Innocence Canada co-hosted a webinar with the UBC Innocence Project at the Allard School of Law, the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR), and the Courthouse Libraries BC. The webinar focused on criminal conviction review commissions. Representatives from Commissions in England and New Zealand shared why their commissions were established, how they operate, and the challenges they face.  Presenters included:

Colin Carruthers, QC, Chief Commissioner: New Zealand Criminal Case Review Commission

Tim McKinnel, Investigations and Review Manager: New Zealand Criminal Case Review Commission

Karen Kneller, Chief Executive: Criminal Case Review Commission (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Linda Lee, Commissioner: Criminal Case Review Commission (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)

The Program contains 1 hour and 30 minutes of Professionalism Content accredited by the Law Society of Ontario. Watch the program below.

Criminal Conviction Review Commissions: International Models for Reviewing Claims of Wrongful Conviction from Courthouse Libraries BC on Vimeo.

On June 16th, Innocence Canada and the UBC Innocence Project hosted a CPD entitled "Post-Conviction Reviews: Cross-Jurisdictional Perspectives". This panel discussion looked at post-conviction review systems in various jurisdictions. Bringing together lawyers from around the world who review claims of wrongful conviction in varying political climates, this 1.5hr webinar introduced participants to the procedures and legislation supporting post-conviction review work in four jurisdictions. Lawyers from Canada, Australia, Japan and Chile spoke about the post-conviction review system in their own jurisdictions and discussed some of the obstacles they face in conducting this work. This program contains 1 hour and 30 minutes of Professionalism Content accredited by the Law Society of Ontario and Law Society of British Columbia.

Past CPD's have highlighted topics such as:

  • False guilty pleas and the susceptibility of vulnerable populations;
  • Police investigations and interrogations;
  • Eyewitness identification; and
  • Canada’s bail system.

Please use the following link to access past legal education lectures delivered by Innocence Canada.

Access Past CPD Lectures

Please note that lawyers who wish to receive CPD hours through Innocence Canada online lectures are responsible for verifying that they met the requirements of their province’s law society. Past lectures which have been accredited by the Law Society of Ontario are indicated as such in the lectures’ written overview located below the video.

These activities are made possible through funding from the Law Foundation of OntarioLegal Aid Ontario and others.