Urge to lock up…

 June 1, 2013

 L’Association des services de réhabilitation sociale du Québec (ASRSQ)  – Guy Lemire
A Lasting Urge to Lock People Up?

 Available in both English and French at the link, this article introduces La Porte Ouverte, the on-line publication of ASRSQ.  This edition is dedicated to the current state of incarceration as seen by various experts.  The link is a treasury of resources and information on community motivated justice work in Quebec.Web page:  http://www.asrsq.ca/index.php  Lemire article and link to La porte ouverte  http://www.asrsq.ca/fr/salle/porte-ouverte/1302/index.php   (Ed note: From time to time, communiqué will draw attention to the articles on this site.  Most articles are in French, some in both English and French, and some just in English.)  

 Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Police hope teens plug into campaign about gangs

 “Eight days of swag” is an initiative by police to persuade teens through awareness on-line to resist gangs and gang involvement. Using social media of all types, when teens re-tweet or otherwise acknowledge a police message on gangs, the name is entered in a prize draw.  Each of the eight days has a different theme inviting teen participation in the conversation and initial response is very positive.  http://www.therecord.com/news-story/3249106-police-hope-teens-plug-into-campaign-about-gangs

Restorative Justice Council (UK)
Legislation for Restorative Justice

 RJC Director Lizzie Nelson described the Crime and Courts Bill as “the biggest development for restorative justice in England and Wales since legislation introducing referral order panels to the youth justice system in 1999.” The bill received royal assent April 26, 2013 and courts can now defer sentencing to all RJ intervention. The link for the RJ council has links to other developments as well, particularly the RJ in Action section. Home Pagehttp://www.rjc.org.uk  Crime and Courts Bill:  http://www.rjc.org.uk/news/important_milestone_for_rj/#.UaiqYJxcsto 

 American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Dockery v. Epps

 Describing the offending privately operated institution, the East Mississippi Correctional Facility, as “hyper-violent, grotesquely filthy and dangerous,” the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center and others have filed a class action lawsuit against the state.  http://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/dockery-v-epps Related article:  ACLU – Civil Rights Groups File Lawsuit Alleging Massive Human Rights Violations at Mississippi Prison http://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/civil-rights-groups-file-lawsuit-alleging-massive-human-rights-violations Related article: L.A. Times What it’s like to get raped in prison, and how we can prevent it  http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-inmate-rape-20130530,0,2790516.story

 GoErie.com (Pennsylvania)
Lawyers: Funds needed for Erie death penalty case

 There has been much discussion in the US about the cost of the death penalty once imposed.  This lawsuit suggests that public defenders who are not given adequate funds to hire expert witnesses in capital cases may claim a violation of the US 14th Amendment, the right to equal protection and due process.  A win would load up the costs around the prosecution of death penalty cases as well. http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130531/NEWS02/305319947/-1/newssitemap 

 Cleveland Plain Dealer – Stan Donaldson
National conference on urban violence begins today at CSU

 Activists on the urban violence scene are coming together to explore the notion that urban violence is a public health issue first and foremost.  The solution, say proponents, involves viewing violence through the lens of public health model rather than the criminal justice system. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2013/05/national_conference_to_address.html  

 Chicago Tribune – Lolly Bowean
At some schools, students find a place for peace 

 “Restorative justice is a lens for how to view the world…It’s a philosophy, viewpoint that says when harm happens or someone misbehaves, there needs to be a process of restoration in order for the community to move forward.”  Part of the process in this Chicago school is a peace room where tensions between students are aired before violence erupts.  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-restorative-justice-for-youth-20130602,0,5234900.story

 Financial Times Magazine (UK) – Trevor Turner
No way to treat a prisoner

 A prison psychiatrist describes involvement with a long term patient who mysteriously winds up in prison.  Getting in and out of the prison presents some obstacles but a patient in prison needs to assent to treatment whereas a patient in a mental hospital can be restored to proper meds.  Available beds in mental hospitals are ‘gold’ or rare and highly prized. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/0f9b1642-c7fb-11e2-be27-00144feab7de.html#axzz2UynydNR8