Safety in jail?

To our readers…

Canada Day wishes:  A more just and compassionate Canada 

 June 30, 2014

 Toronto Star – Wendy Gillis
Inquest juries speak out on jail hanging deaths. Is anybody listening? 

138 people have hanged themselves while in jail in the last twenty years in Ontario jails – 82% of 163 such inquests.  The mandatory inquest into the deaths have revealed time and time again the same jury recommendations that never get implemented, leaving many to wonder why inmates, particularly those with mental illnesses, can not be safe?  Juries have recommended the removal of ‘anchor points’ twenty-five times in the last twenty years.  Some say it’s because the inquests have no resources or capacity for monitoring the recommendations.  Others say it’s because both the coroner’s inquests and the provincial jails are run out of the ministry of corrections http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/06/30/inquest_juries_speak_out_on_jail_hanging_deaths_is_anybody_listening.html

 Toronto Star – Anita Szigeti
Not criminally responsible law erects hurdles for mentally ill 

Szigeti looks at the impact of the NCR in the light of the recent suicide in jail of Farshad “Shawn” Badakhshan, a convicted murderer who had cut the throat of his girl-friend and then set themselves on fire.  The jury rejected the NCR evidence.   Szigeti lays out some of the obstacles for the defense to prove the suitability of a NCR verdict.  http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/06/29/not_criminally_responsible_law_erects_hurdles_for_mentally_ill.html

 Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (UK)
Justice Matters: lifting the lid on Pandora’s box 

This link is especially focused on the criminalization of women and children in the justice system, a claim that the prison system delivers as much social injustice in the present formulation,  the researchers say.  The site is also pre-occupied with alternatives.  The link is for the newsletter of the group and offers access to other themes.  http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/cjm/article/justice-matters-lifting-lid-pandoras-box-0    For more UK articles around women:  Centre for Crime and Justice Studies E-Bulletininfo@crimeandjustice.org.uk

 Baltimore Post-Examiner (US) – Douglas Christian
Income inequality: Danger ahead in the 21st Century

Christian offers an analysis of French economist Piketty’s latest book on the income gap and the forecast of where the inequality may go.  The analysis is also a critique of Piketty and anthropological history as well as the assumptions Piketty makes.  Estate taxes could solve the worst of the problems!  And then free tertiary education for the US!   http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/income-inequality-danger-ahead-21st-century/2014/06/30#sthash.bNCIJg0n.dpuf    Related article:  The Telegraph (UK) Andy McNally  How debt the sociopath used its seductive charms to kill innocent equity, provider of social justice   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/10934713/How-debt-the-sociopath-used-its-seductive-charms-to-kill-innocent-equity-provider-of-social-justice.html

 Detention Watch Network (US)
Detention Watch Network Slams @BarackObama on the Opening of Artesia Family Detention Center 

President Obama has raised the ire of immigration detention watchers and critics around the massive problem created by growing numbers of children showing up at the southern US border.  Instead of simply locking up children, the US will now expedite the lock up and deportation the mothers with the children – family deportation – from a former training facility in New Mexico.  Critics say that the targeted group – women and children – make for easy political points.  http://detentionwatchnetwork.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/detention-watch-network-slams-barackobama-on-the-opening-of-artesia-family-detention-center   Related article: Santa Fe – New Mexican –  Juan Carlos Llorca  Feds: N.M. immigrant center to expedite deportations   http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/feds-n-m-immigrant-center-to-expedite-deportations/article_136cf289-8031-543c-bc75-447b7fe78b92.html