Oct 27, 2015
Toronto Star – New York Times
Video of South Carolina officer flipping, dragging black student sparks outrage – The girl and a male student were arrested and charged with disturbing the peace
This is a startling video and even more the follow-up arrest of a second student who protested the violence in the first arrest. Critics are wondering if police presence and practices in the schools have gone all out of proportions to the treat levels but particular to the widening scope of the involvement of police in normal school discipline. The two high school students are part of what many are calling the criminalization of students; the video went viral on social media. http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/10/27/video-of-south-carolina-officer-flipping-dragging-black-student-sparks-outrage.html Related article: Globe and Mail – Associated Press Sheriff seeks federal probe after South Carolina officer throws, drags student http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/officer-on-leave-in-wake-of-video-showing-him-throwing-dragging-female-student/article26998770/
Toronto Star – Daniel Dale
What happened when U.S. states legalized marijuana
Two US states have legalized the sale of marijuana for personal recreational use: Washington and Colorado. Canada, in the light of the Liberal party promise to legalize the drug and end the taint of criminal record for personal use, has been subjected to much speculation around what legalizing the drug will do in a country that already has one of the highest rates of use by young people in the world. Dale offers a preliminary assessment of what has happened to date in Colorado. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/10/26/what-happened-when-us-states-legalized-marijuana.html Related article – Ottawa Citizen Jacqui Miller When pot is sold at local boutique: film explores U.S. states that legalized marijuana http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/when-pot-is-sold-at-local-boutique-film-explores-u-s-states-that-legalized-marijuana Related article: Vancouver Sun – Brian Morton Vancouver moves 11 pot shops closer to legal status http://www.vancouversun.com/health/vancouver+moves+shops+closer+legal+status/11469903/story.html
Institute for Research on Public Policy in Canada – Delphine Nakache and Leanne Dixon-Perera
Temporary or Transitional? Migrant Workers’ Experiences with Permanent Residence in Canada
This report raises an interesting question in the light of both the recent Syrian refugee questions and the temporary foreign worker controversies. Namely, what is happening now with the migrant workers in Canada? There is a rule in place that says four years in Canada, four years out but how many will seek permanent residency in Canada? When and how does the process work itself out? http://irpp.org/research-studies/study-no55/?mc_cid=a34aa32665&mc_eid=5d54bfd7f5 Full 60 page downloadable pdf – Temporary or Transitional? Migrant Workers’ Experiences with Permanent Residence in Canada http://irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/study-no55.pdf
Bureau of Justice Statistics (US)
Drug Offenders in Federal Prisons: Estimates of Characteristics Based on Linked Data
In the US, the stats offer a surprising racial profile among those convicted of drug offenses under the guidelines for the new US Sentencing Commission according to the type of drug involved. For a thumbnail summary go to: http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5436&utm_source=juststats-102715&utm_medium=email&utm_content=DOFP%20Button&utm_campaign=juststats&ed2f26df2d9c416fbddddd2330a778c6=chnlligge-cngonhea For the complete report (10 page downloadable pdf), go to: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/dofp12.pdf
Vancouver Sun – Ian Mulgrew
Detective in Ivan Henry case has difficulty recalling events – Former investigator downplays his role in Henry’s arrest for sexual assaults
Ivan Henry was wrongfully convicted of a series of sexual assaults and served 27 years before evidence led to a dismissal. The lead detective from Vancouver Police now 73 has trouble remembering details of the case as the province and the federal government defend themselves from the lawsuit. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/detective+ivan+henry+case+difficulty+recalling+events/11469950/story.html#ixzz3pmi4putM
Vancouver Sun – Canadian Press
At least 20 years in prison for B.C. man who trafficked teens for sex: Crown
BC’s first conviction under trafficking in human persons is awaiting sentencing after repeated delays. While the crown is seeking 20 years and the defence is asking for 10-12 years. Reza Moazami was convicted of luring at least a dozen teenage girls into prostitution. Justice Catherine Bruce drew attention to the extenuating circumstances: “It wasn’t that he did this all at once and he was arrested and that was it,” she said. “This was a situation where he was doing it, then he was arrested, released and he started doing it again.” http://www.vancouversun.com/life/least+years+prison+trafficked+teens+crown/11469042/story.html