Nov. 22, 2013
CBC News – Karina Roman
Proposed labour code changes worry safety advocates
Again the federal government is relying in the omnibus approach and buried with the proposed C-4 Omnibus Bill are several changes to the Canadian Labour Code that safety advocates say will make the work place more dangerous for workers. The feds want to give the minister of labour the right to determine, without any investigation, whether refusal to work because of safety concerns is frivolous. The second concern is a re-definition of danger in the work place, now to require immanent threat. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/proposed-labour-code-changes-worry-safety-advocates-1.2434214
Globe and Mail – Editorial
No room in the jail, when we’re too tough on crime
The editorial asks us to recognize that very few are in jail for a lifetime and that most come out at some point and become neighbours. Federal prison buildings are deteriorating and the tough-on-crime is filling them to overflowing. We have reached the point, says the Globe and Mail, where tough-on-crime and fiscal austerity are incompatible. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/no-room-in-the-jail-when-were-too-tough-on-crime/article15533909
Miami Herald – Web edition
A prison camps primer
Here`s the story and description of the development (with the costs since 2002) of the prison at Guantánamo Bay. There are now in fact twelve facilities within the camp. Who could want anything more? http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/20/2558413/web-extra-a-prison-camps-primer.html#storylink=cpy
Hawaii Reporter –
Over 10,500 Prisoners from CA, VT, ID, and HI are incarcerated In Out-of -State Private Prisons
A monitoring group, Grassroots Leadership, looking to end the use of private prisons in the US has published a report documenting the number of inmates who are housed in private facilities out of state at distances between 350 and 3000 miles from home. The report is called Locked Up and Shipped Away: Interstate Prisoner Transfer and the Private Prison Industry. “When he is released into society we are the one who will be his support, we are the ones who will encourage him to finish college, get a job and never go back to prison. But we are losing touch, we are losing the battle.” – Danielle Rigney whose incarcerated son was involuntarily transferred from California to Arizona. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/report-over-10500-prisoners-from-ca-vt-id-and-hi-are-incarcerated-in-out-of-state-private-prisons/123 Full Report: http://grassrootsleadership.org/blog/2013/11/locked-shippedaway-new-report-exposes-private-prisons-profiting-sending-prisons-far Related article: Burlington Free Press (VT) – Sam Hemingway Study criticizes Vermont for private-prison use http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20131120/NEWS03/311200029/1095/Study-criticizes-Vermont-private-prison-use?nclick_check=1
American Immigration Council – Walter Ewing
Detention Bed Mandate is Just One Example of How Immigration is Being Criminalized
Ewing insists on two truths about immigration: immigrants are less likely to commit crimes and high levels of immigration do not correlate to high crime rates. However, he says immigration policy is often shaped by fear and stereotypes and the result is criminalization of immigrants by the system. http://immigrationimpact.com/2013/11/20/detention-bed-mandate-is-just-one-example-of-how-immigration-is-being-criminalized
Conference: International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (BC)
Crime and Punishment: Back to the Future for Sentencing and Corrections Reform
Chaired by Chief Justice Beverley McLaughlin, the conference takes places in Vancouver June 22-26, 2014. The conference is calling for presenters and wants to focus on the following: Sentencing Reform, Corrections Reform, Youth criminal justice programs, Criminal justice responses to mentally ill offenders, Aboriginal criminal justice programs, Parole, probation and re-entry, Genetics and Sentencing. Interested parties can be in touch with:
Brian Tkachuk, Executive Director International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR) 1822 East Mall, Vancouver BC CANADA V6T 1Z1 Tel: + 1 604 822 9875 ?Fax: + 1 604 822 9317 tkachuk@law.ubc.ca ? http://www.icclr.law.ubc.ca Web site for the conference: http://www.cvent.com/events/crime-and-punishment-back-to-the-future-for-sentencing-and-corrections-reform/event-summary-14647931c06e424da72ecb1451845520.aspx
Restorative Justice in Education Dialogue – Dorothy Vaandering
The Newsletter reflects a growing effort to introduce RJ into schools as the model for the school’s disciplinary process. This Newsletter offers a reflection on the elephant in the room and what to do with the elephant. Vaandering is with the education faculty of Memorial University. http://shalemnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Nov-2013-RP-Dialogue.pdf