June 21, 2013
Calgary Herald – Jason van Rassel
Biker gang activity heats up in Alberta
Smaller local motorcycle gangs are a way for Hell’s Angels to expand their memberships through support clubs. In Alberta, the expansion is because other gangs have established a presence and the Hell’s Angels want control of the territory and activity. http://www.calgaryherald.com/mobile/news/calgary/Biker+gang+activity+heats+Alberta/8550697/story.html
Montreal Gazette – Vancouver Sun – Andy Riga
Métro’s crime figures would cause ‘panic,’ police argue The Montreal police have finally said why they have steadily refused to release the crime incidents on the Montreal Metro (Subway). It’s because the members of the public, if they knew, would be too frightened to use the subway! The fight over disclosure has been going on since 2010.http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/M%c3%a9tro+crime+figures+would+cause+panic+police+argue/8505778/story.html#ixzz2Wn1sgPib
Prison Policy Initiatives (US)
Please Deposit All of Your Money: Kickbacks, Rates and Hidden Fees in the Jail Phone Industry
The article is a follow-up detailing how telephone rates from prisoners to their families and attorney are structured to bring additional profit to the private prison operator and / or the operating authority. The local jails are equally involved and almost all calls are made collect or through arrangements by relatives with the phone company. http://www.prisonpolicy.org/phones/pleasedeposit.html Related article: Toronto Star – Curtis Rush Should Whitehorse jail inmates be charged for phone calls? http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/06/18/should_whitehorse_jail_inmates_be_charged_for_phone_calls.html?cta=explore&utm_expid=6682428-0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FdFXLF6Uvok
Care2make a difference (US) – Judy Molland
Should Students Who Skip School Go to Jail?
Just when you thought you had heard all the idiocy around educational practices! How about fining and perhaps jailing students (and parents) who are tardy and skipping school? One Dallas, Texas, school board appears to openly embrace the practice. “We are not talking about a few isolated cases here: according to Alternet, Texas adult courts in one recent year handled 113,000 truancy cases, while Dallas County truancy court alone collected nearly $3 million in fines. It also sent 67 students age 17 and older to jail because of truancy violations, and 53 students younger than 17 to juvenile detention centers.” The practice brings new definition to the school-to-prison pipeline. http://www.care2.com/causes/should-students-who-skip-school-go-to-jail.html#ixzz2WlWPgjHt
The Age (Australia) – Dan Harrison
Children moved from Manus Island detention
The Gaillard government has finally succumbed to pressures and ordered all children in immigration detention on the island removed for health and safety reasons. While government continues to insist that there has been no change in immigration policy – just practice – Amnesty International has described the conditions on Manus Island as “appalling.” http://www.theage.com.au/national/children-moved-from-manus-island-detention-20130620-2olz5.html
The Atlantic – Richard Gunderman
The Incarceration Epidemic
The puzzle is why four times increase in jailing while the crime rate goes down by 25%? The answer has to do with the new sentencing guidelines, especially the mandatory minimums, the war on drugs, the toll on families and on communities. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/the-incarceration-epidemic/277056
Penal Reform International
PRI’s eight country research reports on policy and legislation to prevent and address violence against children are now available.
Though Canada is not among the eight countries studied, this report may be helpful in addressing incidents of violence against children while they are in custody. The report includes police and pre-trial where children are in most danger of violence and torture. http://www.penalreform.org/publications/review-law-and-policy-prevent-and-remedy-violence-against-children-police-and-pre-tria-0?utm_source=Penal+Reform+International+e-bulletin&utm_campaign=6f326968cb-Violence+against+Children&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c6082fc44-6f326968cb-311886165
Columbia Police Department (US)
Impact of crime survey of citizens
In partnership with the University of North Carolina, Columbia police are trying to gain a better understanding of the perceptions and experience of citizens on crime and policing. Here’s the link to the web version of the survey:http://cpdneighborhoodsurvey.questionpro.com
National Journal (Chicago) – Sophie Quinton
Getting Out of Jail and Staying Out
In the US, 700,000 people come out of jail each year. Within three years about half that number will be back in jail. Safer Foundation, a non-profit in Garfield Park, has cut that number of recidivists in half by an effective welcome home program that makes contact before release and then offers the various social services into one location and offers easy access to whatever the presenting problem. http://www.nationaljournal.com/next-economy/solutions-bank/getting-out-of-jail-and-staying-out-20130619?mrefid=mostViewed