Mar 21, 2014
StraightTalk.com (BC) – Travis Lupick
Prisoner advocates say coroner’s inquest on solitary deaths missed an opportunity for reform
Mountain Institution (BC) has had three inmate deaths while in solitary in eight months. UBC Law Professor Michael Jackson thinks that a coroner’s inquest looking into the deaths wasted its time and failed to see the role that segregation or solitary played. Jackson, long a civil rights advocate for prisoners, has a number of recommendations around the segregation issue: “Recommendations that he has advocated for since as far back as the 1970s include independent adjudication for prisoner terms in solitary, a limit of 15 days in isolation, and a prohibition on placing mentally ill offenders in solitary confinement.” Almost 25% of Canada’s male inmates spent time in solitary, averaging 35 days a stay. http://www.straight.com/news/609371/prisoner-advocates-say-coroners-inquest-solitary-deaths-missed-opportunity-reform (Note that the links at the bottom of the page offers an in-depth report on solitary in Canada’s prisons.)
iPolitics.com – Steve Sullivan
Why is Ottawa gutting our best defence against child predators?
Sullivan, the first victims’ ombudsman for Canada, has a new regular column. The first column invites us to wonder why the government of Canada is cutting the funding to the most successful program ever for preventing re-offending by child sexual offenders. At ‘a flyspeck’ cost – $2 million per year compared to CSC $3 billion – the program caters to 150-200 offenders who because they are at sentence expiry volunteer for the program and are cared for by 700 volunteers for that 7-24 care. There are 18 programs with a staff of 50. Sullivan thinks it’s about politics, not keeping our children safe. He’s right. http://www.ipolitics.ca/2014/03/19/why-is-ottawa-gutting-our-best-defence-against-child-predators
Toronto Star – Jennifer Pagliaro
Judge finds police ‘lied, exaggerated and colluded’ about cellblock assaults captured on video
Justice Donna Hackett is now considering whether to give a stay against a man who was beaten by four police officers who then agreed on a narrative of lies to cover up the incident in 53 Division. Curiously, the video that swayed the judge has not been released though it was part of the court’s public record. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/03/20/judge_finds_police_lied_exaggerated_and_colluded_about_cellblock_assaults_captured_on_video.html
The News Review – Dennis Wilger
Open Cinema tackles cyber bullying
Yorkton Film Festival and the Canadian Federation of University Women recently hosted a session on cyberbullying, highlighting education as the way to confront the problem. The session used the short film “Cyberbullying” to get the conversation started. The film is available for use in schools as well. http://www.yorktonnews.com/article/20140319/YORKTONNEWS0101/303199991/-1/YORKTONNEWS01/open-cinema-tackles-cyber-bullying Related article: Regina Leader-Post – Barb Pacholik Anti-bullying plan gets funds http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Anti+bullying+plan+gets+funds/9639040/story.html
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Detention Guidelines (2012)
The new guidelines update the 1999 text. The 64 page document offers ten guidelines with appropriate definitions and follows with a series of commentaries on how the guidelines should function, including the human rights that detainees enjoy. http://www.refworld.org/docid/503489533b8.html
Op-Ed.com (US) – Barry Sussman
Holder Calls for Sentencing Reform, Maybe
When drug offences acquire a federal status, often for negotiating purposes, and accused are guilty, then the mandatory federal sentencing kicks in. The U.S. Sentencing Commission is responsible for guidelines. In the struggle to reduce the financial burden of long sentences for minor drug offences, US Attorney General Eric Holder has instructed the federal prosecutors not to indict for minor offences under the federal statutes. Now he is appearing before the Commission to change the guidelines, even calling them “draconian,” while still calling for aggressive enforcement. Who’s to know what to do? http://www.opednews.com/articles/Holder-Calls-for-Sentencin-by-Barry-Sussman-Crime_Crime_Criminal_Drugs-140319-124.html Related article: Think Progress – Carimah Townes People Convicted Of Drug Crimes In Missouri Can Be Sentenced To Starvation — Here’s How To Fix That http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/03/19/3416224/missouri-food-stamps
Tampa Bay Times – Michael Van Sickler
Amendment to bill expanding ‘stand your ground’ would limit access to court records
Just when you thought it was silly enough! Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has proposed an extension of the ‘stand-your-ground’ law to allow people cleared of criminal charges after an incident to expunge the court records of the hearing and evidence from the trial; for the sake of the privacy of the accused. Researchers have look at over 200 cases since the law was passed in 2005 and uncovered considerable inconsistency in the application of the law, a fact that would surely escape expunged records. http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/amendment-to-bill-expanding-stand-your-ground-would-limit-access-to-court/2171021
New Time.com – Don Thompson, Associated Press
Report Says California Targeted by Cyber-Gangs
The article speaks about ‘transnational crime’ or crime committed from beyond a country’s borders using the internet. Thompson offers an analysis suggesting that California’s financial and banking institutes are the front line of this targeted crime. In part, California is also the target because of the amount of intellectual property rights around technology. There is also considerable money laundering. The origin of the crime seems to be “Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Israel, Egypt, China, and Nigeria, among other places.” http://time.com/#31516/report-says-california-targeted-by-cyber-gangs
Santa Monica Times.com – Rebecca Howes
Gang prevention documentary chronicles prison life
The article is an introduction and film review of a 40 minute video (trailer available at link) that describes the impact of the loss of family of gang members who are incarcerated and the impact on the family members themselves. Called “Life Facing Bars,” the video was produced by the Santa Monica Police Department to be used for preventative work among potential gang members. http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/gang-prevention-documentary-chronicles-prison-life/article_fc8e0120-aff5-11e3-9175-0019bb2963f4.html