May 21, 2013
Black News.com
Pennsylvania Judge Sentenced For 28 Years for Selling Kids to the Prison System
A 61 year old judge has been convicted of ‘selling’ prisoners–adults and children- to private prison interests for bribes; 4,000 convictions of the judge from 2003 – 2008 are under review. The “kids-for-cash” scheme involved some as young as 10 years old. http://blog.blacknews.com/2013/05/judge-mark-ciavarella-sentenced-selling-kids-prison-system101.html#.UZpxmspcuQu
Telegraph News (Australia) – Andrew Carswell
Cyber bullying cases pass to private investigators
Police are claiming they have no capacity for dealing with complaints of cyberbullying and are quietly passing the complaints to private investigators. Confronted with $800 a day costs, the pressure is mounting for better policing by the internet providers. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/cyber-bullying-cases-pass-to-private-investigators/story-fni0cx4q-1226647215431
Florida Today .com – Paula Ferrell and Janean Knight
Guest column: BPS anti-bullying lessons, practices far from over
What’s the difference between conflict and bullying? Here’s what one public high school is doing to educate staff and student leadership to promote reduction in aggression from all types of social media. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130520/NEWS01/305200009/Guest-column-BPS-anti-bullying-lessons-practices-far-from-over?nclick_check=1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Jeremy Redmon
Limits on ICE solitary confinement advance
The measure, an amendment to the Senate Bill, proposed by Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut, says a maximum of 15 days except by instructions from the Homeland Security secretary; no more solitary for under 18 or the mentally ill. http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/measure-would-limit-solitary-confinement-in-immigr/nXxWY Related article: Think Progress – Sharita Gruberg Immigration Asylum and Detention Amendments Could Protect LGBT Immigrants http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/05/20/2038111/immigration-asylum-and-detention-amendments-could-protect-lgbt-immigrants/?mobile=nc
Voxy (New Zealand)
Restorative justice more effective for serious crime
Based on experience of RJ conferencing, the emotional impact for both victim and offender makes the approach suitable and effective for both lesser and more serious crime. http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/restorative-justice-more-effective-serious-crime/5/155960
U.S. News Today – Alan Gomez
Senate panel OKs plan to fingerprint people leaving U.S.
The debate in the U.S. senate on immigration will eventually arrive at collecting biometrics, even though a Republican proposal to collect fingerprints of all those leaving the country has failed, for the moment. The claim is that 40% of the 11 million illegals are those who overstay a legitimate visa. Now the plan is to collect exit fingerprints in 10 major airports within two years and to expand in the next six years. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/20/senate-immigration-biometric-system/2327697
Office of the Ombudsman (Australia)
Suicide and Self-harm in the Immigration Detention Network
This 130 page report (May 2013) outlines the widespread problems in recent years. There are a key findings and summary of recommendations (pp 1- 7) and extensive analysis of factors contributing to self-harm. Section 4 of the report deals with Duty of Care. http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/files/suicide_and_self-harm_in_the_immigration_detention_network.pdf Related article: Australian Broadcast News – Karen Barlow Ombudsman finds long-term detention linked to self harm http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-21/ombudsman-finds-long-term-detention-linked-to-self-harm/4704424
Guardian (UK) – Lorraine Khan
Opportunities to stop girls drifting into gangs are being missed, study finds
8,000 girls were part of this study aimed at discovering the multiple risk factors (28 in all) that led to participation by girls in gangs. Girls with mental health issues, especially behavioural problems, in earlier childhood but without treatment were at higher risks. Young women entering gangs had twice as many of these risk factors. http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2013/may/21/stop-girls-drifting-into-gangs-study
Guardian (UK) – Alan Travis
Torture victims win test case over detention in UK immigration centres
Four detainees who claimed, and were later medically proven, torture victims were ordered compensated by Britain’s high court since the Home Office ignored its own rules. Rules were breached for about 100 other detainees, all expected to sue for damages. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/21/torture-victims-win-case-uk-detention