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