Aug. 9, 2013
Aug. 10 – Prisoner’s Justice Day
Focus on children of incarcerated parents -Media Advisory from Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN)
Prisoner’s Justice Day is a day when prisoners and their loved ones remember those who have died while being incarcerated. August 10th has been commemorated since 1975 following the death of Eddie Nolan while he was held in solitary confinement at Millhaven Penitentiary in 1974. This annual day of remembrance began in Canada and is now observed world-wide. While Prisoner’s Justice Day started solely as a memorial event, it now has been expanded to include education and advocacy.
This year, the 38th annual Prisoner’s Justice Day will focus on issues faced by families with loved ones who are in Canadian prisons. The event will be hosted by Jessica Reid, co-founder of F.E.A.T. for Children of Incarcerated Parents.CFCN http://www.cfcn-rcafd.org/text/pdj-media.pdf F.E.A.T. http://www.featforchildren.org
John Howard Society (MB) – Kate Kelher
Segregation story only a quarter of the story
Acting Executive Director Kelher is reflecting on the recent CBC News story about an increase in segregation for federal prisoners and points out in a John Howard Press Release that approximately ¾ of prisoners are under provincial jurisdiction. Further, Manitoba is the lead in Canada for the practice of remand in which the majority of those in provincial prison are there without ever having been convicted. Kelher also offers some sobering thoughts about the significance of Prisoners’ Justice Day.https://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Howard-Society-of-Manitoba/137026123009646
Toronto Star – Sandford Borins
Sammy Yatim: Innovation that could have saved his life
Policing policy is now the focus of the killing of teenager Sammy Yatim. The suggestion is, that comparable to practice in the US, why would not public health and police co-operate in dealing with encounters with the mentally ill and perhaps violent? Further, could not the public mental health people train police in how to de-escalate the potential for violence in such encounters? The practice would be supportive to all parties involved. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/08/08/sammy_yatim_innovation_that_could_have_saved_his_life.html
CNN News (US) – Evan Perez
Justice plans sentencing changes for non-violent criminals
Perez, the Justice reporter for CNN, thinks that the move to overhaul the federal sentencing guidelines with its mandatory minimums may hail the end of the tough-on-crime era and the practice of mass incarceration of recent years. US Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to announce the provisions of the overhaul on Monday. It is likely that states using alternatives to prison will be highlighted as well in this announcement, obviously intended as a response to racism in the system and budgetary pressures. http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/politics/justice-department-sentencing/index.html Related article: CNN Trisha Bee Justice Dept. plans sentencing changes for non-violent criminals http://fox6now.com/2013/08/08/justice-dept-plans-sentencing-changes-for-non-violent-criminals
CBC News (NB)
Saia twins sentenced to prison in fatal home invasion
22 year old twins Brandon and Bradley Saia were sentenced to jail for a home invasion in St. John last year. Both had criminal records and multiple charges resulting in 8 years for Brandon and 11 years for Bradley.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/08/08/nb-saia-brothers-sentence-invasion.html
St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice (AB)
SCVRJ holds a walk to remember loved ones
A unique walk along the White Pathway was intended to raise public awareness of victims of drunk drivers, car accidents, homicides and drug overdoses. As walkers progressed along the path, photos of those untimely victims lined the route and walkers were invited to deposit their lights to commemorate the loss. http://www.riverfallsjournal.com/node/1566588
Sentencing Project (US)
LAPD Begins Program of Voluntary Mediation in Racial Profiling Cases
Beset with allegations of racial profiling by police, the Los Angeles Police Department have set up an experimental mediation process to deal with charges of racism. The three year project is voluntary for both police officers and accusers. The profiling allegations are most frequent in traffic stops but in the years of dispute no officer has ever been found to have racially profiled motorists. An officer’s voluntary participation in the process – where no bodily injury or assault has occurred – will end departmental discipline for the officer. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd-racial-profiling-20130730,0,6780152.story Home page for The Sentencing Project: http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/index.cfm (Ed note: The Sentencing Project follows a number of interesting issues in the context of imprisonment: the mass incarceration, the Florida “Stand-your-ground” law, the imprisonment of minorities including Black and aboriginals. There is a free offer of subscription to their newsletter.)