My boyfriend is inuit and he is currently in pre-trial detention. The charge against him is aggravated assault. His lawyer told me that since it's his first case of violence, he might get the minimal sentence which is 2 years, including the third in jail and then the rest in probation. My uncle, which is police officer as a profession and native, told me that sentences can be differents for indians & inuits. For example, my boyfriend could get faster in which is called house arrest (24h/day confined at home). Is that true? Does anybody of you know more about that? Please tell me anything you know.

Isabelia, if your boyfriend gets two years then he will do federal time and then he will be eligible for parole when he has completed one-third of his time, even though it is his first time in prison he may or may not receive parole. Once he reaches two-thirds he will be released (unless for some reason they feel a person is a real danger to society then they do have loop holes to keep them for the entire sentence). If your man receives parole (federally) he will have to be on parole until the end of his sentence then any probation orders the judge imposed, if any, will start after that. In BC when you are granted one-third parole and usually two-thirds parole you may be required to live in a halfway house and possibly complete programs within the community. Usually after that they might let you home with 24 hour confinement or possibly not if the person has found employment etc.

If you man receives 2 years less a day then he will do provinical time and again at one-third he will be eligible for parole. Which in BC they rarely give out parole especially if the inmate has probation since they will be able to keep an eye on them longer anyways. Inmates without a probation order will sometimes have an easier time receiving parole since they will not have any way to keep tabs on the inmate once they are released at two-thirds. Provinical two-thirds is when they have to release you (again unless otherwise warranted to keep the person, which does not happen very often) and your sentence is over right then (at least in BC) and you do not have to complete parole, the only thing you might have to do is complete a probation order if one was imposed byt he judge at sentencing and then he would have to complete that. Here in BC, where parole is hard to get you usually have to agree to some form of program or treatment plan to ensure the publics safety with a solid plan for the future, employment, stable home life, some one to support them while they look for work, or to go to school etc.

As for the native fact, in BC where we have alot of natives (my family is as well) I do know that they have a few extra resources as far as programs and halfway houses but I don't believe that they are released from prison any sooner than others because they are native in fact, as mean as it may sound, some of the ones I know have had a difficult time due to lack of family support, no where to live or financial support. While in prison there is most certainly advantages to being native as they are allowed many things that other inmates are not allowed due to native rituals, religion etc.

I hope that I have answered some of your questions and good luck.

My husband is Native and the institution that he is in has a Native Brotherhood and they gather together and speak. I know that the Guards treat the Natives with disrespect. I see it all the time and it's not fair, they are humans just like everyone else..

report them if you see the disrespect but be warned it better be true or the husband will pay for your fibs !