Aug. 14, 2013
The Manitoban (University of Manitoba Student paper) – Katerina Tefft
Canadian justice system failing Aboriginal people
Tefft outlines the ways that the justice system – over-representation, more likelihood of imprisonment, dramatic increases in incarceration for Aboriginal women – is failing the Aboriginal People of Canada and calls for radical change: a return to traditional Aboriginal restorative justice, but only in the context of Aboriginal self-government. http://www.themanitoban.com/2013/08/canadian-justice-system-failing-aboriginal-people/15822
Ottawa Citizen – William Marsden, Postmedia News
U.S. seeks more humane sentencing to fix ‘broken’ justice system
Marsden compares the approach of the US federal government with the Canadian tough-on-crime approach found in Bill C-10. The retreat by the US from harsher sentences is prompted by the failure of the strategy to impact crime while creating monumental costs through mass incarceration, also now considered racially discriminatory to minorities with run-away recidivism rates. US attorney General Eric Holder has announced his intent to discontinue the mandatory minimums, to release those who are no threat but imprisoned under long sentences, and to improve the capacity of rehabilitation centres and community services to become alternatives to prison, especially for the young. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/touch/news/world/seeks+more+humane+sentencing+broken+justice+system/8780149/story.html?rel=825269
Toronto Star – Editorial
Canada’s prison system needs Muslim preachers who can teach peace to terrorists
The editorial reflects the concerns around the special nature of a terrorist whose sense of the religion has been distorted and radicalized to allow the terrorism. Muslim chaplains play an important part in bringing about the rehabilitation of one whose religion has been used to radicalize him. The decision to terminate part-time chaplains is both short-sighted and for too little savings. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2013/08/13/canadas_prison_system_needs_muslim_preachers_who_can_teach_peace_to_terrorists_editorial.html
NY 1.com – Dean Meminger
Judge: Monitor To Oversee NYPD Stop-And-Frisk Policy Changes
Calling the stop-and-frisk practice of the NY Police Department ‘indirect racial profiling’ U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin has appointed a former assistant district attorney as a monitor of the practice. Supporters of the practice think it is largely responsible for considerable reduction in violent crime while many from the community of Blacks and Hispanics see it as thinly veiled racial discrimination.http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/187037/judge–monitor-to-oversee-nypd-stop-and-frisk-policy-changes#sthash.WuDnSpkR.dpuf Related article: NBC News NYPD ‘stop and frisk’ policy declared unconstitutional http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/52739740
Family Caregivers Unite – VoiceAmerica Radio
Bail Hearings for Family Members with Serious Mental Illnesses
The 60 minute tape of a radio broadcast features Catherine Currie, an Ontario lawyer who works with those with serious mental illness who appear before the courts. Catherine converses with Joanne Capozzi, Lead Crown (prosecutor) in Ontario’s Mental Health Court and Drug Treatment Court. The program outlines the parameters for the family caregiver who attempts to be helpful and may be responsible to a court for the mentally ill who seeks bail. http://familycaregiversunite.org/2013/08/bail-hearings-for-family-members-with-serious-mental-illnesses
PBS (US) – Associated Press
For Holder, ‘Smart’ is the New ‘Tough’ on Crime
The Public Broadcasting System offers an over-crowded federal and state prison system as the context for the recent decision of the Attorney General to end mandatory minimums. Federal prisons are operating at 40% beyond capacity and in certain cases single cells are triple bunked. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/08/for-holder-smart-is-the-new-tough-on-crime.html
Edmonton Journal – Shelia Pratt
Lawyer says Omar Khadr’s detention in maximum-security prison ‘illegal’
Dennis Edney, lawyer for Omar Khadr, is going to court to challenge the maximum security prison for Khadr. The length of Khadr’s original sentence under Canadian law means, says Edney, that Khadr is sentenced as a juvenile; otherwise, the sentence would be life since Khadr plead guilty to murder. Edney wants Khadr in a provincial jail. The habeas corpus hearing will be take place next month. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Lawyer+says+Khadr+detention+maximum+security+prison+illegal/8783498/story.html