RJ in Human Rights

May 1, 2013

 Daily Business Buzz (Nova Scotia)
Halifax fire chief apologizes to firefighters who experienced racism

 Nova Scotia is the first province to legislate restorative measures in its Human Rights cases.  In this instance, several Black firefighters, dissatisfied with preliminary response to complaints, eventually brought to the Human Rights Commission incidents as far back as 2002.  http://www.dailybusinessbuzz.ca/Provincial-News/2013-04-26/article-3228109/NS:-Halifax-fire-chief-apologizes-to-firefighters-who-experienced-racism/1 Related article: Fire chief apologizes to black firefighters http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1125314-fire-chief-apologizes-to-black-firefighters

 Vera Institute of Justice 
Family Visitation, Behavior, and School Performance: What Data from Ohio Show about Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

 The study supports the claim that there is a measurable and distinct correlation between the social support derived from family visitation for incarcerated youth, and their school performance and behaviour.  http://www.vera.org/pubs/impact-of-family-visitation-on-incarcerated-youth  Full 6 page report in pdf format:  http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/family-visitation-and-youth-behavior-brief.pdf

 Guardian (UK)
Legal aid funding cuts leave prisoners outside the rule of law

 UK reform to the legal aid system (read cuts) is calculated to remove the possibility of legal aid for any internal matter for prisoners.  Included are the internal disciplinary measures, adjudications by the governor, the separation of mothers and children, the children of vulnerable prisoners.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2013/apr/29/legal-aid-funding-cuts-prisoners 

 STV Glasgow Magazine (UK) – Rachael Fulton
Behind the bars at Barlinnie: Rehabilitating prisoners through art

 Theatre Nemo has been active in the prison for nine years, utilising the creative arts to rehabilitate prisoners and examine the problems that contribute to crime.  Now the prison has an art show highlighting the 130 year history of the prison.  http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/magazine/223291-barlinnie-prisoners-with-mental-health-problems-helped-by-theatre-nemo-arts

 The Week (UK)
Community resolutions used in 10,000 serious violence cases

 Long an issue that stymies RJ approaches, the police themselves in the UK have concluded that a front line officer can determine if a RJ approach is helpful to the victim of serious crime and whether the process may be helpful to all.  Last year the police used RJ for 14% of crimes involving violence.  http://www.theweek.co.uk/crime/52757/community-resolutions-used-10000-serious-violence-cases#ixzz2Rz2pfiKJ  Related article: Police let off more than 10,000 seriously violent criminals because they said ‘sorry’ to their victims http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2316961/More-10-000-seriously-violent-criminals-let-saying-sorry-victims.html#ixzz2Rz4e1aKC

 Huffington Post – Chris Curry
Making Criminals Out of the Mentally Ill

 The author, a former patient and worker in psychiatric hospitals, has some pointed reaction to C-54 and its provisions around the high risk NCR designation. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/chris-curry/bill-c-54-mentally-ill-criminally-responsible_b_3186768.html 

 San Francisco Chronicler – Bob Egelko
Valley fever spurs inmate transfer order

 The federal judge appointed supervisor of medical health for California prisons has ordered 3,300 prisoners with age and immunity deficiency problems out of two institutions in the San Joaquin Valley because they are high risk of valley fever, which has already killed dozens of inmates. http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Valley-fever-spurs-inmate-transfer-order-4474072.php  

 Southern California Public Radio – KPCC 89.3
State prisons won’t rush to move inmates at risk for Valley Fever

 Despite orders from the federal receiver, state prison authorities do not intend to move the 3,300 prisoners of two institutions who are deemed high risk for Valley Fever, a fungal infection also called Coccidioidomycosis, has killed 36 inmates (71% Black) in five years, contributed to the death of an addition 40 and hospitalized hundreds. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/politics/2013/04/30/13497/state-prisons-won-t-rush-to-move-inmates-at-risk-f 

The Bakersfield Californian
Valley fever worries and valley prison transfers

 The article points out the logic of the transfer orders but adds a caution that if some move out of these two institutions, others will have to move in.  http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x568090046/Valley-fever-worries-and-valley-prison-transfers

 Ottawa Citizen – Joseph Heath
In defence of sociology

 Heath wonders why conservatives are so strongly disdainful of sociology and its sub-specialty of criminology.  It may be, he suggests, that the vast majority of criminologists in Canada take exception to the justice policies and practices of the Harper government and prefer evidence based policies.  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/defence+sociology/8317722/story.html