Ashley Smith inquest

January 22, 2013

CBC News –

Ashley Smith jurors watch video showing her death

A gruesome sight showing the last moments of Ashley Smith life and the immediate aftermath on a CSC video tape, a powerful scene that makes one repeat the query: how could this happen in Canada? http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/01/21/canada-ashley-smith-inquest.html 

 Toronto Star – Rosie DiManno
Ashley Smith: Guards watched as teen prisoner gasped for air

DiManno describes the last moments and quotes from the transcript of Julian Falconer’s questioning of the guard who made the video. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1318247–ashley-smith-guards-watched-as-teen-prisoner-gasped-for-air

 Tri-city News.com (BC) – Diane Strandberg
More talk about bullying in Coquitlam

Prompted by the death of teen suicide Amanda Todd, The Tri-Cities joint Family Court and Youth Justice Committee is launching a five part series to offer an alternate approach to the issues. http://www.tricitynews.com/news/187810971.html  

  Mail-on-line (UK) – James Slack
Al Qaeda bomb plot gangs were handed £30m in legal aid to fund their defence

Ever wonder how the legal defense of accused terrorists works and what it costs tax payers?  Here’s a British answer, in part at least. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2266198/Al-Qaeda-bomb-plot-gangs-handed-30m-legal-aid-fund-defence.html#ixzz2Ii6goeNd

 CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (CIAJ)   – Event announcement
“Ambiguous Crossroads“: Persons with Mental Health Problems and the Criminal Justice System

Friday, February 1, 2013, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia PDF File for further information: http://www.ciaj-icaj.ca/images/stories/eventsPDF/2013.MentalHealth.pdf 

 Guardian (UK) – Parita Doshi and Freya Holland-Maxwell
How social enterprise can help reduce re-offending

Faced with a 60% re-offending with two years of release, these two authors offer two approaches through social enterprise to reduce the recidivism rates:  a paid employment project called Blue Sky and microenterprise called Start-up.  http://socialenterprise.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/2013/jan/22/social-enterprise-reduce-reoffending 

 Guardian (UK) – Patrick Butler
Charities afraid to challenge public policy amid retribution fears

There has been a significant amount of concern in Canada and in England recently about the dependence of charities on funds, especially government funds, and their willingness or capacity to speak out for vulnerable populations. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/22/charities-public-policy-funding-fears?CMP=twt_gu