Floods, gangs and pot…

 Jan. 2, 2013

 CBC News Calgary
Floods, gangs and pot: Calgary police chief reflects on 2013 

 Crime has gone down in Calgary this past year but as far as Police Chief Rick Hanson is concerned the biggest lessons learn in 2013 involved how to deal with a public enduring a natural disaster.  “He (Hanson) said the floods showed officials where the weaknesses were in emergency protocols and how to improve them in the future.”  What a refreshing view of what is important to community justice and policing!  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/floods-gangs-and-pot-calgary-police-chief-reflects-on-2013-1.2479799  

 Ottawa Citizen –Dr. Stuart J. Murray, Canada Research Chair in Rhetoric and Ethics, Carleton University;  Dr. Dave Holmes, RN, University Research Chair in Forensic Nursing, University of Ottawa
Ashley Smith: Who is guilty of homicide? 

 In the light of the ruling of homicide by the Coroner’s Jury, these two distinguish professors have a troubling reflection for us all:  “Doing justice to (Ashley) Smith becomes surreal, impossible in the face of a faceless, anonymous system. Ethically and juridically we enter a grey zone: nobody is responsible, agents were just following orders.”  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ashley+Smith+guilty+homicide/9330133/story.html 

 Regina Leader-Post – Betty Ann Adam 
Sentencing circles fall out of favour 

 This article from Saskatchewan is based on statistics showing a considerable reduction in the number of cases tried through sentencing circles.  The practice is influenced by the lack of neutral persons, expense and time involved in seeing a circle through to a conclusion. Provincial court Judge Bria Huculak, recently retired, does not know why defence lawyers are no longer asking for a circle process. thttp://www.leaderpost.com/news/Sentencing+circles+fall+favour/9340986/story.html

Ottawa Citizen – Julio Montaner and M-J Milloy 
Op-Ed: Drug-free prisons act ignores evidence 

 Both authors are researchers at UBC in HIV/Aids and are suggesting that giving the National Parole Board the power to punish inmates for failed urine tests for the use of drugs.  The experts are more concerned about early identification and treatment to control the spread of the diseases through needles.  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Drug+free+prisons+ignores+evidence/9332167/story.html 

 CBC News
Laptop searches by agents at border OK, U.S. judge says 

 Apparently because the security of the border is involved, a U.S. Judge has approved a search of laptops without suspicion or other authorization. The constitutional challenge was brought by the ACLU which is considering an appeal since in the case of professional journalists the laptops could contain sensitive information about news stories and informants.  This particular case involved an American studying at McGill in Montreal.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/laptop-searches-by-agents-at-border-ok-u-s-judge-says-1.2481751

 Arizona Republic – Editorial
Private prisons: Let’s see hidden cost comparisons 

The practice currently driving the immigration detention policies of allowing a quota for beds to guarantee the population in federal detention is making its way into the state system.  Arizona has removed a provision requiring the state to compare costs between the state run prison and the private prisons.  The state was also required once to vet the three major private prison companies for other critical services but that too has been repealed.  http://www.azcentral.com/opinions/articles/20140101private-prisons-hidden-cost-comparisons.html

 KALW (Public Radio) – San Francisco – Ali Budner
How is restorative justice affecting troubled students?

 The article offers an assessment of effectiveness of a school district attempt at RJ with a number of people responsible for the implementation of the RJ approach in a district plague by suspensions and expulsions.  Additionally there are a number of other links offered as resources for the panel discussion.  http://kalw.org/post/today-your-call-how-restorative-justice-affecting-troubled-students-0