December 14, 2012
Ottawa Citizen – Gary Dimmock
Born in Canada but not a citizen
This report continues justification for alarm around immigration and crime. Parents of Deepan Budlakoti, a 23-year-old first-time federal offender, became Canadian citizens in 1997 and assumed their son, born in Canada, was already a Canadian citizen. Scheduled to be released from federal prison on Wednesday, Dec 12, he will be taken to Toronto for immediate deportation to an India he has never known. He holds both a Canadian birth certificate and a Canadian passport. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Born+Canada+citizen/7678817/story.html
Human Rights First –
Dialogues on Detention: Applying lessons from the criminal justice reform to immigration detention system
Over 400,000 people are held in US immigration detention, at a cost of over $2 billion per year using over 250 jails, enough to prompt a critical examination of what is happening. The dialogues are being held across the US and inviting experts, advocates and academics to discover and use best practices. http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/our-work/refugee-protection/dialogues-on-detention
BBC News (UK)
Immigration detention casework must improve – watchdogs
Two prison inspectors are calling for better casework where people are held for a long time. Their objections came from cases involving detention for greater than two years. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20689637
The Post News (Bristol, UK)
Bristol can become a ‘Restorative City’
“Restorative justice is a way to make sure that we listen to victims. It’s not a quick fix, it’s not a gimmick, it’s changing the culture, said newly appointed Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said. The newly elected Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, seems on side. “I absolutely agree that the whole issue is about changing our culture and turning away from the bitterness, the vindictiveness and the ‘throw away the key’ approach to crime, which actually does no good to people on all sides.” http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-Restorative-City/story-17558417-detail/story.html
News Talk 980 (SK) – Ashley Wills
New gang recruits come from wealthy areas in Saskatoon – Saskatoon police say around 600 people are involved in gangs in the city
SJN has had much talk about gangs and where the recruits come from. Father Andre Poilievre works with Str8 up, a program for gang members who want to leave the lifestyle. He thinks the new recruits are coming from wealthier neighbourhoods. http://cjme.com/story/new-gang-recruits-come-wealthy-areas-saskatoon/87110
The Agenda – Steve Paikin
A three part series on the mentally ill: Prison or Pavement; Housing the Mentally Ill; Criminal Justice and the Mentally Ill http://theagenda.tvo.org/episode/186090/mentally-ill-prison-or-pavement
Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) – Alan Johnson
Anti-crime grants to help mentally ill – Attorney general allocates $450,000
Here’s a novel idea! Prevention by funding veterans, the elderly and youth to bre able to step out of the revolving door of repeated encounters with law enforcement. Six groups were funded with grants to deliver on the major problems facing the mentally ill in the target populations. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/12/12/anti-crime-grants-to-help-mentally-ill.html
iPolitics – Laura Stone
Vic Toews is definitely ok with double-bunking
Even in solitary, where double bunking is particularly dangerous, Vic Toews has affirmed double bunking is OK. Canadians will likely see the regulations under which CSC operates changed. Howard Sapers, the Correctional Investigator of Canada, the ombudsman for federal inmates, says prison double-bunking is unsafe, linked to increased violence and causes the spread of infectious diseases. http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/12/11/vic-toews-is-definitely-ok-with-double-bunking