Jan. 22, 2014
Canadian Law Times – Yamri Taddese
How does Ontario legal aid compare?
British lawyers have responded to the Jan. 6 cuts to legal aid with a strike, unprecedented in British legal history. This article looks at the international state of legal aid where there are varieties or practices and in particular the Ontario scene after so many years of tough economic reality. http://www.lawtimesnews.com/201401203721/headline-news/how-does-ontario-legal-aid-compare?utm_source=responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CLNewswire_20140120
Canadian Law Times – Damien J. Penny
What not to do in the war on drugs
Branding the US war on drugs America’s longest war, Penny is offering a number of failed options as routes for others, including the US, to avoid. The article reviews a new documentary – America’s Longest War – and includes as one of the problems the militarization of police. http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/4963/What-not-to-do-in-the-war-on-drugs.html?utm_source=responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CLNewswire_20140120 Preview of the 48 minute documentary by Paul Feine: http://americaslongestwar.com
CBC News
Girl accused in teen prostitution trial gets maximum sentence
In the case of three Ottawa girls who managed a human trafficking and prostitution ring, the first juvenile and the youngest of the three, sentenced has received the maximum allowable under the juvenile code. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/girl-accused-in-teen-prostitution-trial-gets-maximum-sentence-1.2503552
N. Y. Times – Editorial Board
Detention Must Be Paid
The editorial board suggests that we are now at the same place in immigration as we are with sentencing: at a low in immigration and still ‘splurge’ spending through the ceiling on crime, security and immigration enforcement. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/opinion/detention-must-be-paid.html?_r=0
ACLU (US) – Joanne Lin
End Near for Shackling of Pregnant Women
The omnibus appropriations bill has brought an end, almost, to the practice of shackling pregnant women in immigration detention. The problem may persist in local jails where about half ICE detainees are held and where the practice may still be sanctioned. https://www.aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights-reproductive-freedom/end-near-shackling-pregnant-women
The Real News.com (US) – Oscar Leon
Immigration Advocates Face Serious Challenges in Passing Reform in 2014
Leon is an experienced international press correspondent and documentary filmmaker based in Arizona. Here is the transcript of his latest documentary on the annual deportation of 369,000 and the consequences for family life. The transcript includes undocumented detainees and community activists. http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=11363
The Guardian (UK) – Joshua Rozenberg
How whole-life sentences might comply with human rights convention
Some time ago the European Court in Strasbourg ruled that whole life sentences without any mechanism for review were a violation of human rights. Now the same court will be asked to rule if murderers can continue to be imprisoned under whole life sentences and the issue seems to be whether British criminal law or human rights law as declared by the European Court will prevail. http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/jan/21/whole-life-sentences-human-rights-convention
9 News National (Australia)
Inquiry into children in detention
The Australian Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs is suggesting that there are about 1000 children in immigration detention and that the reduced flow of information from government requires a formal inquiry. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2014/01/22/08/57/inquiry-into-children-in-detention
Takepart Features – Mike Kessler
Prison: The new mental hospital
Kessler charges that California has again failed the most vulnerable of its mental patients coming out of its state prisons. He draws out the story of one 49-year-old schizophrenic who leaves prison without medications and without any way to access them. The circumstances apply to over 8300 who have been returned to the county, convicted for non-violent crimes and serving time in state prison, but who were already on the mental illness roll. http://www.takepart.com/feature/2014/01/22/prison-new-mental-hospital