June 23, 2016
CBC News – Murray Brewster
Former CSIS head says Canada should have its own cyberwarriors – Documents show Forces are struggling to develop even a defensive cyber capability
Richard Fadden, Canada’s former spy chief, says that Canada should have the capacity to defend itself from cyberattack but also to strike using cyber-warriors. The assessment is in the light of the need for a pre-emptive attack to protect the country or the armed forces from cyberattack. The debate around defensive or offensive cyber posture has been raging soto voce for some time. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/military-cyber-wars-fadden-1.3648214
Toronto Star – Laura Kane, Canadian Press
B.C. man’s ex-wife says his revenge website forcing her to change identity
Here’s a variation on cyberbullying. Patrick Fox of Burnaby, BC, is facing three criminal charges – criminal harassment and two firearms charges. The bullying is directed towards his former wife who currently lives in Arizona and thinks that his ex-husband’s moment in jail is the moment for her to change her name and disappear from him. The charge of harassment was slow coming because there was, says the crown, no proof of physical danger to the wife. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/22/ex-wife-of-bc-man-says-his-revenge-website-destroyed-her.html Related article: Toronto Star – Colin Perkel, Canadian Press Interview with Canadian serving life in prison in Florida https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/06/22/interview-with-canadian-serving-life-in-prison-in-florida.html
Toronto Star – Sandro Contenta, Laurie Monsebraaten and Jim Rankin
CAS study reveals stark racial disparities for blacks, aboriginals
A new study prompted by perceived disparity in Ontario’s child care practices has highlight that Aboriginal and Black children are far more likely to become wards of Children’s Aid. For Aboriginals, the rate is 168% more likely to be placed in care. Black children are 40% more likely to be investigated for abuse or neglect and 13% more likely to be placed in care. Margaret Parsons of the African Canadian Legal Clinic says: “What they might not consider abuse or neglect within a white or non-African Canadian family, they will consider abuse or neglect in one of our families,” she says. “This is not a matter of erring on the side of caution. We feel it is punitive.” https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/23/cas-study-reveals-stark-racial-disparities-for-blacks-aboriginals.html (Graphic table for comparison at link.) Related article: BC Tyee – Katie Hyslop Fostering Change: Cabaret Promotes Support for Youth ‘Aging Out’ of Care http://thetyee.ca/Culture/2016/06/23/Fostering-Change-Cabaret/
Toronto Star – Lubomyr Luciuk
Making parole decisions is one tough job
Parole is a recurring item current discussions about the re-entry process. Luciuk, a professor at Royal Military College in Kingston, describes his personal experience in preparation for and the exercise of his role as a part time member of the parole board until April 2016. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/06/23/making-parole-decisions-is-one-tough-job.html
Boston Review (US) – Judith A. Levine
Brock Turner and the Problem of Punishment
Turner is the Stanford man convicted of sexual assault in California and given a six months in county jail for punishment. The sentence provoked rage from across the spectrum and a 7,000 word statement by the victim became the focus of reaction leading to a demand for removal of the judge. Says Levine: “What we’ve learned is that state-administered retribution falls largely upon the poor, black, and brown, including marginalized women. It cannot accomplish what Turner’s victim wanted: that her assailant understand and take responsibility for the harm he did to her and to the trust and peace of the community…The adversarial criminal system won’t allow that transformation. No defense attorney permits a client to apologize to the victim; that would be an admission of guilt. On the other side, prosecutors are usually hostile to non-criminal resolutions. Convictions get them elected.” http://bostonreview.net/us/judith-levine-rape-and-restorative-justice The victim’s statement: http://heavy.com/news/2016/06/brock-turner-rape-victim-full-statement-pdf-ashleigh-banfield-video-youtube-cnn/ Related article: The Atlantic (US) – Juleyka Lantigua-Williams When Prison Is Not the Answer – At the Orange County Community Court, social services are combined with criminal justice http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/when-prison-is-not-the-answer/487703/
National Post – Graeme Hamilton
Twenty years after Gladue case changed sentencing, aboriginals still disproportionately fill our prisons
The Gladue ruling requires judges when sentencing to take into consideration “the particular circumstances of Aboriginal offenders.” Intended to address the long standing disproportionate number of Aboriginals in jail, the effort has not resulted in fewer but more Aboriginal inmates over the past twenty years. This case, a denied application for a dangerous offender status of an Aboriginal woman, traces some of the factors meant to be considered under the Gladue decision in this case and a second in Manitoba. http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/sentence-enough-twenty-years-after-gladue-aboriginals-still-disproportionately-fill-canadian-prisons Related article: CBC News – Erin Collins 5 ways education could produce a brighter future for Indigenous people http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/first-nations-canada-education-aboriginal-language-1.3636675