Nov. 25, 2013
CTV News – Canadian Press
Tories re-introduce NCR legislation, which includes high-risk designation
Justice Minister Peter McKay announced the federal government will re-introduce the bill to make more difficult the release of those convicted under the Not-criminally responsible (NCR) provision. The bill died on the order paper when the government prorogued the House. The bill also requires that victims be informed when a NCR is released and where the offender goes to live. http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/tories-re-introduce-ncr-legislation-which-includes-high-risk-designation-1.1559944#ixzz2lhBk2AgH
Globe and Mail – Sean Fine
Federal prisons more crowded, violent under Tories, ombudsman says
Federal Correctional Investigator Howard Sapers says that despite a budget increase of 40% in the last five years, Canada’s federal prison system have become worse at rehabilitation. “Howard Sapers criticized “mass incarceration,” “arbitrary and abusive conditions of detention,” and the victims’ rights agenda that Justice Minister Peter MacKay has placed at the centre of his program.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/federal-prisons-more-crowded-violent-under-tories-ombudsman-says/article15581828
Ottawa Citizen – Kelly Egan
A little boy, pushed into the river at 4, grows into a dangerous offender at 36
Egan describes two very different NCR’s and how their paths crossed in becoming NCR’s. Jeffrey Verdon and Jean Dionne both came from the same village of Mechanicsville, Verdon a victim of Dionne the pedophile. Now both are held following a determination of NCR. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Egan+little+pushed+into+river+grows+into+dangerous+offender/9206839/story.html
Waterloo Crime Prevention Council –
RAP Sheets: Facts on Sexual Abuse of Children
RAP (Research and Planning) Sheets are a series of articles starting October to highlight concerns around crime prevention and to provide “at-a-glance statistics and research on topics relevant to crime, victimization and fear of crime.” The link is to the first one on child sexual abuse, a two page pdf. http://sayhi.ca/usercontent/documents/RapSheet_ChildhoodSexualAbuse-v6.pdf
Globe and Mail – Tavia Grant
How should Canada solve income inequality?
The gulf between the rich and the lower half of the income ranking is growing. The wage growth is ‘sluggish’ and the solution, like the problem, seems complex. The Globe and Mail offers a number of solutions and invites reader participation. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/how-should-canada-solve-income-inequality/article15574730/?cmpid=rss1
Financial Post – Tony Wanless
Vancouver’s CCS iHub aims to help social entrepreneurs stay in business
Wanless introduces us to several enterprises that have roots in both the social concerns and in good business practices. These enterprises often start up without the enterprise skills necessary to assure an on-going capacity to stay in business. The UBC Sauder School of business works with Coast Capital savings and social concerns looking to expand. http://business.financialpost.com/2013/11/25/vancouvers-ccs-ihub-aims-to-help-social-entrepreneurs-stay-in-business
Fusion TV – Ted Hesson
Immigration Reform: Why Immigrants in Detention Are More Vulnerable to Sex Abuse
The current scandal in the US immigration system involves about 40% under-reporting of sexual assaults and rape within the immigrant detention facility. http://fusion.net/justice/story/immigrants-detention-vulnerable-sex-abuse-250964 Pdf of full 93 page federal government report: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/659145.pdf
The Global Mail (Australia) – Nick Olle
Asylum: The High-Stakes Mistakes Of “Enhanced Screening”
The immigration process in Australia involves an initial assessment about the worthiness of the claim. On the basis of a single interview, the claimant is either ‘screened in’ for having a case for status or ‘screened out’ and prepared for deportation. The process has been criticized by the Australian Human Rights Commission and termed “unfair and unreliable” by the UN High Commissioner. http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/the-high-stakes-mistakes-of-enhanced-screening/751
The Independent (UK) – Oliver Wright
‘Courts are biased against blacks’ with white offenders handed more lenient sentences, says official report
Ministry of Justice officials have admitted the bias “without a shadow of a doubt.” Black and Asians convicted of crime are 20% more likely to go to jail and for a longer sentence than white counterparts for the same offences. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/courts-are-biased-against-blacks-with-white-offenders-less-likely-to-be-jailed-for-similar-crimes-says-official-report-8959804.html