May 2, 2014
CBC News – Leslie MacKinnon
Beverley McLachlin, PMO give duelling statements on Nadon appointment fight
There is a storm brewing over allegations from the Prime Minister’s office that Canada’s chief justice played an inappropriate role in the process of nominating Marc Nadon to the SCC. Commentators immediately suggested that the bulk of the present justices are Harper appointees and that the dispute is more realistically with the SCC itself since the decision on Nadon’s ineligibility was unanimous. The unprecedented allegation from the PMO follows a series of SCC rulings involving legal defeats over the last year for the federal government. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/beverley-mclachlin-pmo-give-duelling-statements-on-nadon-appointment-fight-1.2628563 Related article: Globe and Mail – Sean Fine Harper alleges Supreme Court Chief Justice broke key rule with phone call http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/harper-alleges-supreme-court-chief-justice-broke-key-rule-with-phone-call/article18382971
CTV News
Canada‘s stolen sisters: 1,000 cases of missing or murdered
RCMP have suggested that there are 1186 cases of murdered or missing Aboriginal women. Government both refuses to release the report and further refuses to call for a national inquiry. RCMP say they will release the report within a month.http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1802517
CBC News – Rosemary Barton
Ottawa ignored draft report’s call for missing aboriginal women inquiry
CBC has obtained a draft of the initial original report and has identified some of the elements and recommendations removed from the report by the federal government. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/missing-aboriginal-women-ottawa-ignored-draft-report-s-inquiry-recommendation-1.2628886
CTV News – Laurie Graham
Help for those behind bars
Acknowledging that jail is not the best place for the mentally ill, the federal government has announced a pilot project for dealing with inmates with severe mentally illness. (A two minute video report). http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=355991 Related article: Global TV News – Anna Mehler Paperny Investigation: Canada’s psychiatric prisons have highest death, assault rates http://globalnews.ca/news/1301910/investigation-canadas-psychiatric-prisons-have-highest-death-assault-rates (Go to link for the number of prison deaths in Canada’s various institutions.) Related article: CTV Canada AM – Howard Sapers Interview and assessment of the federal pilot project (7 min interview)http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/new-support-for-prisoners-with-mental-health-issues-in-wake-of-ashley-smith-inquest-1.1801991
Vancouver Sun – Kim Boylan
The sad, short life and tragic death of Jessica – Catastrophic injuries at 4, brutally raped as a teen, pregnant at 15. Then came gang life and drug abuse
This article details the specific circumstances and tragic life of Jessica Illes and her life in a gang with her boyfriend Bobby DiGeorgio, both of whom were executed in separate gangland hits. Family, though long supportive of Jessica, did not know the extent of her serious entanglements with gangs and a criminal life. She leaves an enfant daughter behind, the reason for the most recent efforts to withdraw from the gang life. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/short+life+tragic+death+Jessica/9798603/story.html#ixzz30ZKn3A4W
National Institute for Corrections (US) – Merrill Rotter, MD and W. Amory Carr, PhD
Reducing Criminal Recidivism for Justice-involved Persons with mental illness: Risk/needs/Responsivity and cognitive-Behavioral interventions
A six page downloadable pdf that is attempting to address the criminal recidivism rates for those receiving mental health treatment. The prescription claims to address client stability, public safety and the cost of jail time. The focus is what the authors – two doctors – call “criminal thinking.” http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/cms-assets/documents/141805-776469.cbt-fact-sheet—merrill-rotter.pdf
New Age (Canberra, AU) – Christopher Knaus
Intensive correction orders better than periodic detention, says report
A new report is behind a government decision to end week-end detention by 2016-17 and to prefer intensive supervision based in the community. The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research for New South Wales thinks it has found definitive support for a 33% reduction in recidivism with community based supervision. Critics think the end of week-end detention will lead to longer sentences simply for lack of other options. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/intensive-correction-orders-better-than-periodic-detention-says-report-20140502-zr3dh.html#ixzz30ZVmqT5Q Full Report: The impact of intensive correction orders on re-offending http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l2/cjb176.pdf
Terrace Standard (BC) –
Big Bad Wolf tries restorative justice
Charged with destroying the properties of the three little pigs, the RCMP and the Big Bad Wolf both elected for diversion and the Terrace Community Justice Forum Program to help with restitution. In fact, the scene creates an opportunity for a community justice forum. http://www.terracestandard.com/community/257246071.html
NAACJ and Centre for Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies
15th Biennial Symposium on Violence and Aggression, U Sask University of Saskatchewan June 15-17, 2014
For details and Registration go to: http://www.usask.ca/cfbsjs/VA2014/index.php