Sept 22, 2014
Toronto Star – Richard J. Brennan
Lawsuit targets ‘unbelievable’ violence at London jail
The Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre in London is known in justice circles as “Hell.” London lawyer Kevin Egan has filed a class-action lawsuit with respect to the jail seeking $325 million in damages from the province. The lawsuit speaks to January 2010 to August 2013 and is expected to be heard in February 2015. The certificate application for the class action suit is not lacking for inmates. London is not the only institution with a surge in violence. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/09/22/lawsuit_targets_unbelievable_violence_at_london_jail.html
Canada.com – Daphne Bramham
B.C. court cases offer timely glimpse into prostitution’s reality – Reza Moazami, Cody Legebokoff preyed on vulnerable girls and young women
Judge Glen Perrett thinks that the lack of legal protection for prostitutes contributed to putting the women victims of both these offenders in grave danger. The common denominator, beyond being forced into prostitution, is a dysfunctional family and addictions. http://www.canada.com/news/Daphne+Bramham+court+cases+offer+timely+glimpse+into/10219553/story.html
Globe and Mail – Kathryn Blaze Carlson
Tory minister Leitch to ‘step up’, join round table on aboriginal women
The Status of Women Minister Leitch will join the proposed Roundtable compromise for the inquiry on murdered or missing Aboriginal women. Since March, Leitch has been travelling the country and seeking confidential interviews with the families of the women. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tory-minister-leitch-to-step-up-join-round-table-on-aboriginal-women/article20712532
Toronto Star – Wendy Gillis
Number of police in Canada growing despite ‘dramatic’ crime drop
From 2001 – 2012 the crime rate dropped 26% but the number of police increased by 9% (measured per 100,000 of population). Costs for policing have been ballooning across Canada and many municipalities are questioning the readiness to be tough-on-crime and to follow budget increases for more police. The report, by Livio Di Matteo, a Lakehead University economist, found that the ratio of police to population varies considerably and concludes that more police does not equate to lower crime rates. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/09/22/number_of_police_in_canada_growing_despite_dramatic_crime_drop.html
Toronto Star – Carol Goar
Stinging message to Canada’s judges
For some time now there has been a lively concern about the fact that in family court (2/3 represents themselves) as well as criminal and civil court, having a lawyer is simply not a choice for lower income citizens. Windsor University professor of law Julie Macfarlane, thinks that judges ought to stop chastising defendants and litigants for representing themselves in court and address the prohibitive cost of legal services. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/09/21/stinging_message_to_canadas_lawyers_goar.html
Globe and Mail – Bill Curry and Kathryn Blaze Carlson
Anti-terrorism laws being reviewed due to Islamic State, Harper says
The Canadian Government is looking at the current laws to see what can be done to combat the development of home-grown terrorist. It is also revoking the passport of people with dual citizenship and suspected of leaving Canada to take part in the fighting in Iraq, Syria and Iran. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/anti-terrorism-laws-being-reviewed-due-to-islamic-state-harper-says/article20730148
Ending the Revolving Door of Pre-trial Imprisonment in Ottawa and Beyond
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Fauteux Hall, Room 135
Faculty of Law – University of Ottawa
Speakers include:
Abby Deshman – Director, Public Safety Program, Canadian Civil Liberties Association Co-author of “Set Up to Fail: Bail and the Revolving Door of Pre-trial Detention”
Jacqueline Tasca – Policy Analyst, John Howard Society of Ontario – Author of “Reasonable Bail?”
Discussants include:
Marie-Eve Sylvestre – Vice-Dean of Research and Communications, Civil Law, University of Ottawa
Catherine Latimer – Executive Director, John Howard Society of Canada
Alex Scantlebury – CEO of EBM Pro Writing and former OCDC prisoner
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/CPEPgroup