Nov. 7, 2013
John Howard Society of Ontario
Counter Point launched
John Howard of Ontario has launched Counter Point, a new series calculated to spark conversation about community safety, crime prevention and prisons. Local public events will accompany the launch and JHS is looking to public comments to help choose more topics. There are videos at the links focused on the topics as well. JHS (Ontario): http://www.johnhoward.on.ca/pdfs/Press%20Release%20-%20New%20JHSO%20Publication%20Series%20FINAL%20.pdf Counter Point link: http://www.johnhoward.on.ca/research/the_counter_point.html
CTV Toronto – Colin Perkel, Canadian Press
Ombudsman urges Ontario to issue binding rules to police on conflict de-escalation
Ombudsman Andre Marin thinks that there should be a province wide policy requiring police to de-escalate the encounters between police and the emotionally distressed or mentally ill. Marin is also calling on the Minister of Community Safety Madelaine Meilleur for these new rules and for better de-escalation tools and training for police. http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ombudsman-urges-ontario-to-issue-binding-rules-to-police-on-conflict-de-escalation-1.1529141#ixzz2jyTc7aim
Prison Reform International (PRI)
The monthly newsletter is now available with focus on activities at the UN around women in prison. The document, Pathways to, conditions and consequences of the imprisonment of women, offers insight to the issue of violence against women before, during and after prison. Additionally, there is an article on preventing maltreatment of the LGBTI inmates, A framework for Preventive Monitoring. Women’s issue: http://www.penalreform.org/news/big-week-rights-women-prison/ LGBTI http://www.penalreform.org/resource/lgbti-persons-deprived-liberty-framework-preventive-monitoring/
Press Telegram.com – Beatriz Valenzuela
First set of Los Angeles County prison realignment offenders transferred to fire camps
Here’s an unusual approach to both jail and fire fighting. Force by the courts to realignment, county jail inmates are offered the chance to join the LA Fire Department inmate fire suppression camps where they are trained in the skills and later perhaps hired by the state fire fighting agencies on the basis of skills and experience. An estimated 500 inmates will be involved. http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20131106/first-set-of-los-angeles-county-prison-realignment-offenders-transferred-to-fire-camps
AZ Central.com – Wendy Halloran
Prison health care criticized – Quaker organization again claims inadequate services by state DOC
The Quakers Friends Service Committee in Arizona are pursuing their claim of inadequate medical attention for inmates. Citing 50 deaths, including 8 suicides in the first eight months of this year, the Quakers are criticizing both the private prison and the private medical service contracts. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/20131106prison-health-care-criticized.html?nclick_check=1
N.Y. Times – Kirk Semple
New Help for Poor Immigrants Who Are in Custody and Facing Deportation
Maximino Leyva Ortiz made history today as the first immigration case to use a public defender in his court hearing. Leyva agreed to deportation to Mexico and the hearing was over in minutes. This case was the first of its kind in the US. www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/nyregion/new-help-for-poor-immigrants-who-are-in-custody-and-facing-deportation.html?_r=0w
Griffin University (Brisbane, AU) – Hennessey Hayes, Tara Renae McGee and Michael Cerruto
Explaining Continuity and Change in Offending Behaviour after a Restorative Justice Conference
The authors examine the notion that RJ is an effective measure for effecting change of behaviour after involvement with RJ conferencing, essentially asking does RJ prevent crime? A 17 page pdf does not reach a clear conclusion and outlines areas for further study. http://gcecs.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Explaining-Continuity-and-Change-in-Offending-Behaviour-after-a-Restorative-Justice-Conference.pdf
Oblates of Mary Immaculate (US)
Immigration Call-in day and November Webinars
The Nov. 13th feast day of St. Frances Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who was also the first canonized American citizen, has prompted the US Catholic Conference (Bishops) to set up a “call-in day.” People will receive a call and a message urging them to participate and asking for them to do so by entering their zip code which in turn will connect them with their elected representative. The US bishops are asking people to support a path to citizenship for long time immigrants and to oppose the Safe Act. http://omiusajpic.org/2013/11/04/immigration-call-in-day-and-november-webinars/