In the United States, the law is the same for everyone, regardless of race — at least theoretically. But in Canada, there is a parallel justice system for the favored race: indigenous people.
Since 1999, judges have been asked to give more lenient sentences to indigenous people out of ideological concern for “Indigenous overincarceration.” In addition, indigenous people are offered “sentencing circles” specific to “Aboriginal offenders.” These “sentencing circles” consist of members of the indigenous community, including “Elders”; they make recommendations to a judge about what sentence a person should receive.
