Feb. 16, 2014
Senate Bill 208 – Senator James S. Cowan
An Act to establish the Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice
The bill, introduced in November 2013 is currently going through second reading debate in the senate. According to Senator Cowan, “Bill S-208 would establish a new Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice, mandated to bring together all levels of government, and experts in both mental health and criminal justice, to work together to find effective solutions.” http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Bills/412/Private/S-208/S-208_1/S-208_1.PDF Related article: Remarks by the senator to the senate:http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/Chamber/412/Debates/036db_2014-02-13-e.htm#40
DalhousieUniversity – BruceP.ArchibaldSchulichSchool of Law
Restorative Justice and the Rule of Law: Rethinking Due Process through a Relational Theory of Rights
The abstract allows access to the full document whose conclusion asserts that “a relational understanding of the role and rule of law in relation to restorative justice promotes relationships of equality based on mutual concern, respect and dignity in ways that can enhance justice and social solidarity in a deliberative democracy.” http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2395224
Australia National University (ANU)
Restorative justice helps victims, cuts crime
In a major new study, the ANU has concluded that the recidivism rate drops by as much as 55% for some offences when the crime is attended by a face-to-face between victim and offender. Says ANU Professor John Braithwaite, who helped the establishment of the mediation practice and directed this study: “Because crime hurts, justice should heal.” http://news.anu.edu.au/2014/02/14/restorative-justice-helps-victims-cuts-crime
Center for Migration Studies (N.Y.)
Immigration Detention: Behind the Record Numbers
Since 2009 when immigration issues surfaced through the huge numbers (and expenses) involved in detaining immigrants began, it appears that efforts to contain the jailing have gone without any even marginal success. In fact, the center is reporting record numbers for 2012 at 477,000 and a rate increase of 25% since 2009. Behind the stats is another disturbing suggestion that the length of time detainees spend in custody while awaiting court appearances over removal is also increasing. http://cmsny.org/2014/02/13/immigration-detention-behind-the-record-numbers
Journal-Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) – Patrick Marley and Meg Kissinger
Assembly approves bill on mental health detentions
The state assembly has just approved a bill that allows a mobile medical health team to respond and determine if a patient represents a danger and needs to be hospitalized for treatment. Formerly, only police officers, most of whom were untrained in mental health, would determine if the person would be held in the criminal justice system prior to transfer to hospital. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/assembly-to-take-up-bill-on-mental-health-commitments-b99202804z1-245457861.html
VICTIMS OF CRIME – HOW DO WE BETTER MEET THEIR NEEDS?
March 3, 2014 – 7:15 PM to 9:30 PM Algonquin College, T103
The Smart Justice Network, Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime and Algonquin College are hosting a free event on March 3rd. Ottawa Victim Services will also participate in the event, which will examine the needs of victims. http://www.crcvc.ca Ottawa: 1.877.232.2610
Washington Post (US) – Eugene Kontorovich
What Belgium’s child euthanasia law means for America and the Constitution Child euthanasia, child soldiers, and child capital punishment
These two articles may be a timely reminder to us that the European Courts are exercising an influence on US law. The Europeans have already declared solitary confinement torture and contrary to human rights. This article suggests, as it reflects on the implications for the US Constitution, that a Belgian law that allows child euthanasia, violates the same principle that excludes the death penalty for juveniles or child soldiers. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/02/13/belgiums-kiddie-euthansia-law-and-roper-v-simmons