Dec 7, 2014
Globe and Mail – Editorial (Dec. 6, 2014)
Corrections Canada failed Edward Snowshoe, and it knows it
The editorial identifies solitary confinement for the problem it is: healthy people get sick in it, and sick people sicker. Edward Snowshoe died a suicide after 162 days in solitary in two different facilities. CSC and in particular the Commissioner of Corrections Canada, Don Head, have been, to say the least evasive, about dealing with the problems engendered by too much dependence on solitary as a response to the mentally ill. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/corrections-canada-failed-edward-snowshoe-and-it-knows-it/article21977269
Star Phoenix (Regina) – Darlene Polachic
The aim of Micah Mission is restorative justice
The Micah Mission director and chaplain Peter Oliver knows what it is to be victimized by crime. Twice so far; once his mother’s house was invaded and she was attacked by a man wielding an axe; a second time, he was assaulted and robbed by two young men on the street. Oliver works at restaurant justice outreach at the Micah Mission. He says that RJ is a response to criminal activity that brings transformation and healing to everyone – the community, the perpetrator and the victim. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Micah+Mission+restorative+justice/10446424/story.html
Globe and Mail – Robyn Doolittle
How to cut police spending: Britain’s 20 per cent solution
Austerity on police budgets in England has some odd twists for us in Canada. A civilian with a speed radar, volunteers doing the gardening around HQ, volunteers looking after the buildings, exercising police dogs, even working forensics at a crime scene. Forces in England were told they had to reduce costs by 20% over four year without reducing the number of police officers. They found $4.5 billion (Can) in savings. Doolittle is suggesting we won’t be far behind. And that Bill Blair’s contract was not renewed because he could not cope with lower budgets and less policemen. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/a-thinner-blue-line/article21978969 Related article: Globe and Mail – Tom Cardoso What policing costs in Toronto and London: a tale of two cities http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/torontos-police-budget/article21979002
Ottawa Citizen – Andrew Potter
Fourteen women, twenty five years, and zero progress
This article collects the opinions of a number of people about what, if anything is changed, 25 years after the Montreal massacre. Margaret Mary Jones, Jennifer Ralston, Janice Kennedy, Angelina Chapin, Shelly Page, and Christina Spencer help shape the perspectives. http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/fourteen-women-twenty-five-years-and-zero-progress Related article: Lethbridge Herald – Editorial (Dec. 5, 2014) Violence against women still a big problem http://lethbridgeherald.com/commentary/opinions/2014/12/05/violence-against-women-still-a-big-problem
Winnipeg Free Press – Radley Balko, The Washington Post
Common myths about cops and crime
Radley Balko, author of “Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces,” writes about five myths that are commonly accepted about police and policing in the light of the focus in the US on Black deaths following confrontations with police. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/Common-myths-about-cops-and-crime-284891031.html
Hamilton Spectator – Molly Hayes
Forensic psychiatry: New unit, old questions
St. Joseph’s New 5th Avenue Unit is trying to change perceptions of what it means to be committed as NCR or Not criminally responsible. Some people think NCR just walk free. In jail, you do your time and you’re released — there’s an end in sight. Not so, here,” says an NCR. There are 1800 NCR across the province and St. Joseph’s assesses about 75 a year. About a quarter of those assessed are deemed true NCR. http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5184310-new-unit-old-questions
Globe and Mail – Dauphin, MB, Canadian Press
Manitoba brothers jailed for ‘relentless attack’ in cyberbullying of 14-year-old
The brothers, 17 at the time of the offenses, got 16 months for an effort to cyberbully and sexually exploit a 14 year old girl. The judge said that the pair intended to “exploit, demean and humiliate” the young girl in “communication (that) was intense and relentless, occurring both day and night.” Experts say this sort of “sextortion” is becoming more and more common. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/brothers-jailed-for-relentless-attack-in-online-cyberbullying-of-14-year-old/article21954425