RJ standards

March 10, 2013

 Restorative Justice Council (UK)
New Restorative Service Standards and Restorative Service Quality Mark – Consultation launched

The Council has published a series of three documents asking for commentary on a draft consultation aimed at establishing national standards for the government adopted RJ practices.  The documents are free and downloadable in pdf format. http://www.restorativejustice.org.uk/news/rsqmconsultation#.UTzcIldAmo8

 Wawatay News – Sioux Lookout, ON –
Jury rolls just one part of issue with justice system

An Aboriginal news broadcaster sees some parallels between the American Black experience in the US and Canada’s Aboriginals.  The Iacobucci Report underlines the need for widespread and comprehensive improvements in Aboriginal justice, well beyond simply fixing the jury pool. http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2013/3/7/jury-rolls-just-one-part-issue-justice-system_24221

 Edmonton Journal / Calgary Herald – Trevor Howell
Justice: Province plans to close courtrooms and pursue fewer prosecutions

It’s budget cut time – $44 million less – and the province plans to close down courtrooms in both Edmonton and Calgary embracing fewer prosecutions for minor crime by giving the Crown more alternatives. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/alberta/Budget+2013+Justice+policing/8063336/story.html

 N.Y. Times – Elizabeth Kiss
Punishment Can Be an Obstacle to Recovery

An opt-ed piece, the author is President of Agnes Scott College and offers RJ as a way to deal with atrocities.  “Truth commissions,” she says, “bring restorative justice that sears horrific history into the collective memory, but allows for productive reconciliation.” http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/03/04/can-we-afford-to-forgive-atrocities/punishment-can-be-an-obstacle-to-recovery 

 Rockland County Times (N.Y.) – Diane Dimond
Crime Rates Are Down — but Why?

Would you be surprised to learn that a Gallup poll a year ago established that only 2% of the US people see crime as a problem?  Dimond offers a number of specific explanations for the falling crime concern and the falling crime rates in the US. http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2013/03/09/crime-rates-are-down-but-why 

 The Press (York, UK) – Kate Liptrot
Crime put in spotlight at meeting

What a novel idea!  The citizens meet the new police commissioner and respond to the draft crime plan.  The region includes provision for “a place of safety unit” for vulnerable persons. Low turnout was a problem in spite of the agenda. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10279095.Crime_put_in_spotlight_at_meeting

 The Sacramento Bee –  Kim Minugh
Sacramento clergy leaders seek tax funds to battle gangs

A group of churches who developed what was adopted as a national model for fighting the formation of gangs is finding the pot empty.  Known as Ceasefire, the program has lost funding and gang violence is again on the rise.  http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/09/5248476/sacramento-clergy-leaders-seek.html#storylink=cpy

 Vancouver Sun – Kim Bolan
Relationship between Vernon lawyer and Greeks leader predated gang, court told

The Vernon BC lawyer for a criminal gang has a day in court for a sentencing hearing.  The defence outlines the long term relationship and the blurring of those relationships with professional standards, suggesting a conditional sentence. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/lawyer+pleads+guilty+working+gang+Canadian+first/7727566/story.html#ixzz2N9kCPAoh 

 Los Angeles Book Review:
Privatized Prisons: A Human Marketplace by Llewellyn Hinkes-Jones

An argument of numbers in which the author is suggesting that the same cost cutting focus leading to the award of contracts to private prison corporations also leads to reducing the services, programs, security, etc. http://lareviewofbooks.org/article.php?type=&id=1302&fulltext=1&media=#article-text-cutpoint