SIU

 Aug. 21, 2013

 Toronto Star – Jennifer Pagliaro
Sammy Yatim: Toronto Const. James Forcillo charged with murder in shooting death of man on TTC streetcar 

 “Good morning justice!” Sammy Yatim’s sister Sarah tweeted when she heard the news of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) decision to charge Constable James Forcillo with second degree murder.  The seventh case of an officer charged with murder, the previous six brought acquittals.  The sentence for conviction is life in prison.  Most are hoping that the decision around the incident will also lead to improved protocols for police when dealing with the mentally ill. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/08/19/sammy_yatim_toronto_police_officer_charged_with_murder_in_shooting_death.html  Related article:  CTV News   Toronto cop facing second-degree murder charge in streetcar shooting to surrender  http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/toronto-cop-facing-second-degree-murder-charge-in-streetcar-shooting-to-surrender-1.1417158#ixzz2cRb11kIa  Related article: CBC News Community Blog – Lauren O’Neil   Sammy Yatim murder charge sparks strong reaction among Canadians  http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2013/08/sammy-yatim-murder-charge-sparks-strong-reaction-from-canadians.html

 Toronto Star – Editorial
Harper government’s tough-on-crime laws are outdated

 The parallel for the US version of tough-on-crime and the Canadian version found in C-10 comes in for comparison.  The Star notes that US Attorney General Eric Holder has side-stepped the repeal of the mandatory minimums in favour of prosecutors withholding details that would invoke the minimums.  While Harper is unlikely to reverse the C-10 legislation, Canadian crowns, says the Star, while waiting for the 2015 election and the policy decisions by the political parties on crime, could do the same by drawing up charges in such a way as to avoid the mandatory trap. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2013/08/19/harper_governments_toughoncrime_laws_are_outdated_editorial.html  

 Policy Mic – Yu Sun Chin
New Immigration Law Doesn’t Take Into Account This One Demographic

 Carlos is a 62 year old schizophrenic who has spent time in detention and who asked to be deported because the experience was making the disease far worse.  He was not represented by a lawyer.  Though a citizen since 1992, Carolos is subject to deportation because he has a conviction for drug possession.  http://www.policymic.com/articles/47523/new-immigration-law-doesn-t-take-into-account-this-one-demographic 

 University of Manchester (UK) – National Institute for Health Research –  J Senior, K Forsyth, E Walsh, K O’Hara, C Stevenson, A Hayes, V Short, R Webb, D Challis, S Fazel, A Burns and J Shaw
Health and social care services for older male adults in prison: the identification of current service provision and piloting of an assessment and care planning model 

 A 160 page pdf report on the health services needed for aging prisoners both while still in custody and through their release.  The chapters have summaries of the finding and there is an abstract at the beginning of the paper with eleven appendices at the end on key issues.http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/76562/FullReport-hsdr01050.pdf  

 Huffington Post (US) – Norma Cook Everist
Lutherans Adopt ‘The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries’

 The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has adopted by near unanimous vote (882-25) “Hearing the Cries”, a 38 page report from a task force, in preparation for over four years.  With the report, the Church has approved 11 recommendations for implementing the report.   There are four million members in about 10,000 congregations. h http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norma-cook-everist/lutherans-adopt-the-churc_b_3773592.html   The full report is not yet finalized but an interim version is available in pdf at:  http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/Criminal-Justice.aspx  

 Houston Chronicle – Don Thompson
California considers force-feeding inmates

 California prison officials won a court order allowing them to force feed dozens of inmates nearing death.  Officials said it would likely be done by pumping nutrient rich fluids into the blood streams of unconscious prisoners.  Within two weeks, about 70 of the 136 inmates have been on strike since July 8 and will reach the 60-70 day danger period without having had significant nutrition. http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/California-considers-force-feeding-inmates-4745527.php  Related article:  MWC News – California to force-feed inmates on strike  http://mwcnews.net/news/americas/29987-california-to-force-feed-inmates.html Related article: Bayview National Black Newspaper – Isaac Ontiveros and Azadeh Zohrabi  Outrage over CDCR force feeding plans http://sfbayview.com/2013/outrage-over-cdcr-force-feeding-plans

 The Sentencing Project – Cody Mason
International Growth Trends in Prison Privatization

 The 22 page report, available to download in pdf format, looks at the use and growth of private prisons in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, the US and the UK.  The report adds a section on concerns about private prisons and an extensive country-by-country list of electronic references.http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/inc_International%20Growth%20Trends%20in%20Prison%20Privatization.pdf

 Guardian (UK) – Andrew Sparrow
NSA files and David Miranda detention – latest news and reaction

Under pressure from the British Government the Guardian has destroyed hard drives with data from Edward Snowden.  David Miranda was held and questioned for 9 hours while in transit between Germany and Brazil.  Miranda is Glenn Greenwald’s partner who in turn is also the Guardian’s intermediary on Snowden. The article tries to offer an overview of the events to date and the conflict between the British Government and the Guardian over the protection of what government deems secret information.http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2013/aug/21/nsa-files-david-miranda-detention-latest-news