An Ontario judge has decided to give a Regina woman a second chance.

More than five years ago, the 31-year-old woman, originally from the Muskowekwan First Nation, was given a three-year sentence for robbery, arson and assault. She was also given long-term offender supervision for seven years.

In March, she was released to a women's supervision unit in Toronto. By May, the woman tested positive for cocaine, breaching her conditions.

The prosecutor in the case wanted to give the woman an 18-month sentence, listing a lengthy criminal record that included gang affiliation and a long history of not obeying court orders.

However, Justice Shaun Nakatsuru disagreed. After taking time served into consideration, he gave the woman a one-day sentence.

"Jail has not been very useful in your rehabilitation," he wrote. "Some of it may not be your fault. A large part is. But sending you back to jail for a significant time will not help your rehabilitation or reintegration into the community."

'Jail has not been very useful in your rehabilitation.' - Justice Shaun Nakatsuru

"I will not detail in my decision the trauma you have suffered. Physical, sexual, and emotional trauma. Even when you were so young. A child," wrote the judge. "To do so in such a public way as in a judicial decision will not help you heal. I will say this though. Ms. Hughes testified that in the years she has worked as a Parole Officer she has never met anyone who has faced so much death in her personal life as you."

The Crown prosecutor argued the woman should stay in Ontario, far away from her criminal past in Saskatchewan. However, the judge disagreed, and decided to send her back to Regina.

"It is the most natural of human instincts to want to go home," the judge wrote in his decision. "Even when memories of home are at times tinged with sadness, fear, or regret. Because I am not talking about someone's actual home. Or a home from one's childhood. We all nurture in our heart the idea of 'Home'. The idea of home is about a place of safety. A refuge. A sanctuary. Where love resides."

Ultimately, Justice Nakatsuru said the woman's rehabilitation was up to her.

"In the real world, nothing is perfect. The real world can be unfair. Those programs and those who offer help may anger you sometimes," he wrote. "Remember … true strength comes from within. To be strong, you must have strong roots. It is easy to stand tall when the day is calm. The sky sunny. But it takes strong roots to hold you fast when the storm comes. When the wind blows hard. And threatens to uproot you."

For a link to the decision, click here.