December 9, 2012
Vancouver Sun: James Keller, The Canadian Press
Anti-bullying strategies varied across Canada but success elusive
Bullying and cyber-bullying are widespread across Canada. “Current research suggests restorative approaches that seek to teach children the impact of bullying work better than policies that focus on punishments such as suspensions and expulsions,” says UBC Professor Shelley Hymel. New legislation may be helpful but Wendy Craig, a bullying expert from Queen’s University, worries the attention may be short-lived. “Schools that enthusiastically tackle the issue today may lose interest over time, and this year’s focus on bullying may soon be replaced by the next hot-button issue.” http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Antibullying+strategies+varied+across+Canada+success/7668005/story.html#ixzz2EQidVq8Q
Wanganui Chronicle – Merania Karauria
A crusader changing the way we relate to people
Jennifer Llewellyn, well known RJ advocate and Associate Professor of Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law, tells us that RJ is about how we relate to one another, with or without a criminal law matter intervening. She says, “restorative justice is a theory of justice and a vehicle through which a community can learn together… Restorative justice is a way to change the way we relate to people in the future.” http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/a-crusader-changing-the-way-we-relate-to-people/1652732
Chatham Daily News – Vicki Gough
Killer of Chatham toddler transferred to aboriginal-based institute in B.C.
Shawn Palmer was convicted in 2006 of the manslaughter of a 22 month old toddler. Sentenced to thirteen years, and having served six, Palmer is going to the Kwìkwèxwelhp Institute, a minimum-security institution and is an aboriginal-focused facility, with an emphasis placed on spiritual and cultural teachings. The family struggles with both the Parole Board’s decision and the need for frequent interaction with the PBC. http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/12/07/killer-of-chatham-toddler-transferred-to-aboriginal-based-institute-in-bc
Atlantic Journal: Jeffrey Goldberg
The Case for More Guns (And More Gun Control)
Goldberg’s views are hard for Canadians to hear and understand. According to Gallup, 47% of Americans keep a gun at home. There are nearly 300 million firearms and each year 4 million new guns are added to the total. 8 million people in the US have carry concealed permits. Given this reality, what are the reasons and the options? What is the connection of the presence of guns to crime? Goldberg, who says he does not own a gun but argues that it is too late to regulate the scene, also argues in a 5 minute video that gay and vulnerable populations should carry guns for protection and to prevent crime. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/12/the-case-for-more-guns-and-more-gun-control/309161/?single_page=true
Marketwire –
Media Advisory: Actions Across Canada Against Security Certificates & Immigration Detention
Marking International Human Rights Day, actions are taking place across Canada on December 9th & 10th to demand freedom for security certificate detainees Mohammad Mahjoub, Mohamed Harkat and Mahmoud Jaballah and an end to immigration detention. Mahjoub is in detention here in Canada under a security warrant for 12½ years. http://www.sys-con.com/node/2474703
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange (JJIE): John Lash
Obstacles to implementing Restorative Programs
The item offers an international perspective on RJ among young offenders and identifies practical obstacles, insufficient personnel (in spite of proven success), and patchy availability across the justice system. The obstacles says Lash “are (often) not directly related to the process itself, but instead arise from economic and political considerations.” http://www.youthpolicy.org/justice/2012/11/26/obstacles-to-implementing-restorative-programs
Examiner.com (San Francisco) – Ray Burrowamnesty, Georgia,
Prison populations decline; Angel Tree donations still needed for children
Prison Fellowship (US) sponsors the Angel Tree Project because they believe “children of prisoners are innocent victims of their parent’s crimes.” The result is that Christmas for the families of prisoners is a meager experience at best. The US imprisonment rate percentage came out to “one in thirty-four adults under correctional supervision…” http://www.examiner.com/article/prison-populations-on-the-decline-angel-tree-donations-still-needed-desired Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Project site: http://www.prisonfellowship.org/story/angel-tree-celebrates-30-years
Civil Georgia, Tbilis – Civil. ge
Law on Amnesty Passed with First Reading
The site declares itself “founded by the UN Association of Georgia, a Georgian non-governmental organization in 2001.” According to the stats on imprisonment, in Georgia during 2012, the rate has dropped from a high of 24,079 in January to 21,425 in October. The draft, which passed on first reading in the Georgian Parliament, provides “several forms of amnesty for inmates such as complete exemption from punishment; halving of prison sentence or reducing it either by one-third or by one-forth for broad range of crime categories…According to the draft, those 190 inmates, who were recognized by the December 5 resolution of the Parliament as political prisoners, should be released.” http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=25527