Police Accountability: A Matter of Life, Death, and Integrity

Who Are We?

October 2nd is an internationally observed day to celebrate and raise awareness for innocent individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. Recognizing the hardship of those who are exonerated and of those who are still in prison today, IWCDC works towards the creation of informative advocacy and strives to understand the positions we hold to create change.

Event Description

Police accountability has been at the forefront of many conversations recently and is an important issue to discuss on the basis of public safety and wrongful convictions. Officers are our first contact within the criminal justice system so it is no surprise that they also play a prominent role in wrongful convictions. Police misconduct has occurred within 39 percent of exoneration cases. There are many aspects of misconduct that can occur through tunnel vision, racial and criminal profiling and police brutality. Moreover, youth interrogations can result in coercion and false confessions. While having many responsibilities, officers lack training to work with individuals suffering from mental health issues and can make decisions that are not suited for the person they have been called for.

During the event, we will be having an in depth discussion of the above issues, taking a dive into the cases of those who were wrongfully convicted due to the misconduct of law enforcement. A panel of professionals working in various areas of the justice system will be interviewed. Additionally, attendees will have the ability to ask questions during a Q&A period.

Speaker Lineup

IWCDC Members

David Shellnutt, Founder at The Biking Lawyer, LLP

Adrienne Lei, Lawyer at Dewart Gleason, LLP

DAVE SHELLNUTT

Dave is managing partner of The Biking Lawyer LLP and a dedicated advocate for individuals who have suffered injuries and injustice. Dave has 8 years of personal injury and human rights law experience, on top of 4 years of human rights work in post-conflict countries.

In addition to helping injured cyclists, Dave and his firm have dedicated themselves to assisting those who have suffered state violence and discrimination. From cases of police anti-Blackness to serious injuries sustained inside correctional facilities, Dave and his team have a strong track record of standing up against state violence.

Helping individuals is critical, but Dave believes that real solutions are to be found in radical systemic changes. Therefore, Dave is active in supporting mutual aid efforts, movements and activists who struggle tirelessly to upend oppressive systems.

ADRIENNE LEI

Adrienne is a founding member of Dewart Gleason, and she continues to be the key partner and leading authority in several areas of practice.

Adrienne practices in all areas of law at Dewart Gleason. She represents trade unions in all types of litigation, and she has appeared as counsel in civil and commercial litigation at all levels of court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. She leads her firm’s immigration law group and she is key to their police accountability practice. Adrienne has extensive trial and tribunal experience, and acted as lead counsel in the infamous G-20 police discipline proceedings on behalf of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and several personal complainants.