June 15, 2013
Graham Stewart
Will the real villain step up?
(Here is) another example of the inhumanity we call “correctional facilities” especially when they are neglected by governments that are responsible to operate them. Yesterday the villains were Ontario “rogue guards” while this time the villain is Mississippi “private contractors”. I think the villain is government neglect – a deliberate blindness in this latter case so conveniently accomplished through private third-party contracts.
Ontario claims to be shocked and concerned when faced with the evidence of extreme and frequent prisoner abuse presented by the Ombudsman. But does anyone think that is it possible that they were not deliberately blind to what was happening? Is it possible that an outside agency like the Ombudsman could identify abuse that those with responsibility to operate those facilities missed? Can anyone believe that “better training” and “more staff” will effectively address the core indifference that has typified government neglect and from which abuse in the ranges are inevitably derived? Yes, we should do those things but let’s not be willing to believe that the issue of prison neglect can be fixed from the bottom up or that the only places where abuse occurs are Ontario and Mississippi prisons.
Guardian (UK) – Jill Filipovic
America’s private prison system is a national disgrace
The ACLU is actively pursuing lawsuits in several states over prison conditions. This article deals privately operated prison called the East Mississippi Correctional Facility. SJN’s communiqué drew attention to a number of other states in an article by Andrew Cohen in the June 11 edition. The conditions described by both these articles are undoubtedly known and given some sort of approval by those charged with supervision, a theme that Graham Stewart voices over our Ontario report from Ombudsman Andre Marin THE CODE.http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/13/aclu-lawsuit-east-mississippi-correctional-facility Cohen link: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/06/one-of-the-darkest-periods-in-the-history-of-american-prisons/276684
Wales on line (UK)
Inmate told “You have no human rights” took his own life, inquest hears
A second inmate who overheard the remarks and reported it but the Coroner investigating the death of Andrew Hawkins, 38, was not told. HMP Cardiff Governor Richard Booty informed the inquest that he had legal advice not to reveal the remarks. The jury concluded that “Mr Hawkins took his own life by hanging as a “direct result” of prison staff failing to properly assess his mental health, drug issues and vulnerability and the conversation with the prison officer the previous night.” http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/inmate-told-you-no-human-4321242
CBC News
Sudbury shooter not criminally responsible, court rules. Justice Hennessy says Alex Klem suffers from paranoia, delusional disorder
The defence agreed in a statement of fact that the defendant walked into a store and shot the owner in the stomach. The finding of NCR means that Klem, still in custody, will now be assessed by the Ontario Review Board to determine custody and treatment. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/story/2013/06/14/sby-tony-montelone-alex-klem-sudbury-shooting-hearing.html
The Telegraph (UK) – Olivia Goldhill
Britons embrace CCTV cameras
Britons, according to this latest survey of France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Great Britain, approve, second after Sweden, the use of close circuit TV cameras. 67% think there is no violation of privacy and over 80% think it helps police solve crime. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10120681/Britons-embrace-CCTV-cameras.html
Belmont (MA)
An Important Criminal Justice Reform
Only 39 of the states define a juvenile under the age of 18. Massachusetts now requires that 17 year-olds be dealt with in the juvenile system as well, requiring the involvement of the parents when charged. http://www.wickedlocal.com/belmont/newsnow/x871004873/An-Important-Criminal-Justice-Reform#axzz2WFySSqGh
Pacific Standard (US) -Lauren Kirchner
Treating Mental Illness Prevents Crime and Saves Us Money
Most professionals in the field of mental health or corrections recognize the link between mental illness and criminal justice. This commentary asserts that treatment and access to mental health services is not only the right thing to do but it is more cost effective as well. The article references a North Carolina State study published last month in Psychiatric Services. http://www.psmag.com/health/treating-mental-illness-prevents-crime-and-saves-us-money-60236