May 27, 2014
Globe and Mail – Sean Fine
Harper under pressure to review Supreme Court appointment process
Recent documents have revealed that four of six nominees on a short list for the Supreme Court of Canada are ineligible for the appointment. The list appears to be ideologically motivated and is fuelling bitter acrimony from opposition and from Quebec itself. There has been a vacancy now on the SCC for over eight months. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-under-pressure-to-review-supreme-court-appointment-process/article18861170 Related story: Globe and Mail – Editorial Politicized Supreme Court fight one of Harper’s most imprudent acts http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/a-supreme-court-short-list-long-on-controversy/article18856513 Related article: Toronto Star – Tonda MacCharles Federal government promises to fill Supreme Court vacancy ‘very soon’ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/05/26/federal_government_promises_to_fill_supreme_court_vacancy_very_soon.html
Canadian Law Times – Yamri Taddese
CCLA calls for new law on non-conviction records
Canadian Civil Liberties Association is alarmed by the inconsistencies across Canada around what information police keep and disclose when asked for a criminal records check. A CCLA report included “disclosure of dropped charges, acquittals, mental-health apprehensions, and even casual contacts by police to employers and schools that require a background check.” The CCLA was joined in their concerns by Daniel Brown of the Criminal Defence Bar group. http://www.lawtimesnews.com/201405263982/headline-news/ccla-calls-for-new-law-on-non-conviction-records?utm_source=responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CLNewswire_20140526
CBC News
Cyberbullying bill won’t be split in 2, Peter MacKay says
In spite of a recommendation from the Canadian Bar Association, and countless others, the government is refusing adjustments to the coming Bill C-13, especially the provisions around the warrantless availability of data to police that critics want re-examined. Critics also see a delay for any effective cyberbullying laws if the privacy concerns prompt a charter challenge. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cyberbullying-bill-won-t-be-split-in-2-peter-mackay-says-1.2654659 Related report: Canadian Bar Association report to the Commons Committee for C-13: Bill C-13, Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act http://www.cba.org/CBA/submissions/pdf/14-33-eng.pdf Related article: Globe and Mail – Josh Wingrove MacKay defends expanded surveillance powers in cyberbullying legislation http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/mackay-defends-expanded-surveillance-powers-in-cyberbullying-legislation/article18861278 Related article: Global News: Carmen Chai Could these changes stop cyberbullying? Youth share their suggestions http://globalnews.ca/news/1354484/how-to-stop-cyber-bullying-youth-share-their-suggestions
Global News – Laura Stone
‘These guys have to get out’: Prison guards union to campaign against Conservatives
Canada’s prison guards union is gearing up to persuade its members – and anyone else who will listen – that in the next federal election their interests lie in an ABC vote – Anything But Conservative. The union complaints stem from double bunking and over-crowding, making the prisons far more dangerous. http://globalnews.ca/news/1355340/these-guys-have-to-get-out-prison-guards-union-to-campaign-against-conservatives
Gloucester Citizen (UK)
Restorative justice helps Gloucestershire’s sliding youth crime rates
From 208 t0 2013 Gloucestershire has seen a 70% drop in youth crime, credited to a RJ approach. Police reported over 1100 arrests of 10 and 11 year olds in the UK and one under 17 arrested every four minutes. Such stats prompted a search for alternate methods of dealing with juveniles. http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Restorative-justice-helps-Gloucestershire-s/story-21143621-detail/story.html#0tW5mREJQx3bUEZD.99
Reclaim Justice Network: Charlotte Weinberg
Reclaiming justice – a national network of collective action
This article is a manifesto of a new group that sees its role as answering the question what could we do differently around criminal justice issues – “The RJN is concerned with how to prevent and to address the multiple harms in our communities.” http://downsizingcriminaljustice.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/reclaiming-justice-a-national-network-of-collective-action
World Health Organization (WHO)
Prisons and Health
WHO is meeting in Strasbourg to look at issues around the health of prisoners, nearly always worse than the general population and maybe contributing to illness in the general population when released. The report touches in a comprehensive way almost all the issues involved in prisons and health care, including ethics and solitary confinement. http://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/events/events/2014/05/experts-meeting-on-prison-health-in-europe-and-the-role-of-international-organizations Full WHO report (207 page downloadable pdf) http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/249188/Prisons-and-Health.pdf?ua=1
The Argus (Sussex, UK) –
Home raid victim meets her burglar
An elderly lady was apprehensive about meeting the man who burgled her home while he was serving time four years later. She did not want her name used but agreed the encounter was a helpful experience. For his part, the offender said the encounter was tearful and apologized to her “as I heard for the first time how upset she’d been after the break-in.” http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11236195.Home_raid_victim_meets_her_burglar