Nov. 18, 2013
Star Phoenix (Regina, SK) – Hannah Spray
Court docket focuses on mental health issues
The article announces the first sitting of a court for mental health issues today in Saskatoon. The court will meet twice each month with a dedicated docket and work on a therapeutic approach of supervision and treatment. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Court+docket+focuses+mental+health+issues/9178710/story.html Related article: McGill University Daily – Diana Kwon with Visuals by Alice Shen The brain behind bars: On criminal responsibility and the justice system http://www.mcgilldaily.com/2013/11/the-brain-behind-bars (Ed Note: This article may offer a comprehensive summary of current mental health practices around criminal courts and corrections in Canada – well worth the read with good graphics for illustration.)
Toronto Star – Tim Harper
Law-and-order Conservatives offer only hugs for Rob Ford
Zero tolerance for drugs and tough-on-crime have both seen better days among the silent Conservatives in the Ford issues. Columnist Tim Harper lists the reactions of prominent federal Conservatives who have found humanity in Ford’s misconduct and antics. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/11/18/lawandorder_conservatives_offer_only_hugs_for_rob_ford_tim_harper.html#
Toronto Star – Nicholas Keung
Hundreds held in Canada’s immigration cells
Nearly 600 people are currently held by Canadian immigration enforcement officials waiting to be deported, 60 for more than a year. In the case of those held long term, the reason is often that there is no possibility of deportation since the country of origin refuses to issue the necessary travel papers. International legal practice is to release after 90 days. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/11/18/hundreds_held_in_canadas_immigration_cells.html Related article: Toronto Star – Nicholas Keung Brampton man in detention limbo http://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2013/11/18/brampton_man_in_detention_limbo.html
Globe and Mail – Joanna Slater
U.S. income inequality: A tale of two cities
Slater draws out the lived difference for incomes between Greenwich and Bridgeport in Connecticut, the most unequal urban area in the US today. Then she draws a comparison with the same dynamics in Canada. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/us-income-inequality-a-tale-of-two-cities/article15478215 Related article: Globe and Mail – Konrad Yakabuski Income inequality in Canada: What’s the problem? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/income-inequality-in-canada-whats-the-problem/article15470499/
The Victoria Age (Australia) – Steven Butcher
Lawyer warns of riots in Victoria’s overcrowded prisons
All levels of the prison population – prisons, police cells and remand centres – are coping with serious over-crowding. “Former chairman of the criminal law section of the Law Institute of Victoria Rob Melasecca told Fairfax Media it was ”just a matter of time before riots eventuate and there are potential deaths in custody”. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/lawyer-warns-of-riots-in-victorias-overcrowded-prisons-20131116-2xnwe.html#ixzz2l0w2i4NO
University of Cincinnati
Multilevel study finds no link between minimum wage and crime rates
Two doctoral students and a research assistant have looked at the connection between the minimum wage and the crime rate from 1977 to 2012 and concluded that the two don’t seem to be related. The researchers included data from the Consumer Price Index as well without conclusive results. The study will be presented at the convention of the American Society of Criminologists shortly. http://www.sciencecodex.com/multilevel_study_finds_no_link_between_minimum_wage_and_crime_rates-123170
Washington Times – David Cole and Marc Mauer
Reducing crime by reducing incarceration – Longer sentences don’t mean fewer crimes
The authors are advocating a focus on who receives the shortest sentences but also who receives the longest sentences. Even as shorter sentences are becoming more acceptable, especially for low level drug offences, the number of life sentences is going up, a counter-productive development in the mind of the authors because longer sentences is a key reason for prison growth. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/14/cole-and-mauer-reducing-crime-by-reducing-incarcer Related article: The Sentencing Project – Trends in US Corrections (6 pages of graphic information updating the trends in pdf format) http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/inc_Trends_in_Corrections_Fact_sheet.pdf