Truscott Lecture in Justice 2025

Join Howard Sapers for a compelling talk on how the Canadian correctional and justice system must be measured not only by how it punishes but by how it upholds human rights, dignity, and fairness—even behind bars. 

"Being 'tough on crime' must not come at the cost of justice, dignity, and human rights. True reform means creating a corrections system that is fair, humane, and effective. We must confront the systemic flaws, address the misuse of segregation, and ensure that rehabilitation, not just punishment, is at the heart of our approach to justice."

Howard Sapers

Join us for a compelling talk exploring the Canadian correctional system, beginning with Howard Saper's personal reflection on the wrongful conviction of Steven Truscott. This discussion will examine the realities of incarceration, the impact of being "tough on crime," and pressing issues such as the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in prisons. Using recent cases—including Paul Bernardo’s prison transfer and the government's response to Charter violations in segregation practices—the talk will highlight systemic challenges and potential reforms for a more humane and effective correctional system.

The lecture series is part of the Truscott Initiative launched at U of G in 2009 to commemorate the struggles of Guelph resident Steven Truscott and his family.

Truscott is known across Canada for his decades-long battle to prove his innocence after the 1959 murder of his schoolmate Lynne Harper. He was wrongly convicted of the crime at age 14 and spent years in prison before his release in 1969. He was acquitted by the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2007.

The Truscott Initiative aims to improve understanding of the nation’s complex criminal justice system and to highlight how criminal justice intersects with other policy areas and broader conceptions of justice.

Registration is not required for this event.