Aug 25, 2023 – Prison deaths…
Theogavrielides.com
Comparative Restorative Justice: Is it possible? – Dr. Theo Gavrielides
Long time and well-known Dr. Theo Gavrielides has just published with a number of other equally distinguished experts: Comparative Restorative Justice (Springer). Gavrielides thinks that restorative justice is now faced with a number of paradoxes and suggests that comparative restorative justice may be able to break a perceived impasse: “an emerging comparative study of what structured and unstructured justice systems do – and should do – about preventing or restoring the violation of the social liaison that binds communities together.” https://www.theogavrielides.com/single-post/comparative-restorative-justice-is-it-possible?utm_campaign=fa13ee2c-e7d5-4d54-8327-3bd284765fa7&utm_source=so&utm_medium=lp (The book is available in hard cover, paperback and electronically through Amazon but all version are $160 plus.) Gavrielides blogs at: https://twitter.com/TGavrielides/status/1695046167024005605?s=20
CBC News – Olivia Bowden
His brother died in an Ontario jail. Advocates say calls for reform to prevent such deaths are being ignored – Ashton Gray, 34, died by suicide in Toronto South Detention Centre in May
The story in this link is graphic enough to attract a warning for the reader. “His death is part of a disturbing trend in the province, where deaths in custody have increased over the last decade, according to data published by the province and advocacy organizations. Academics and advocates say recommended reforms to the corrections system need to be carried out to save lives and provide treatment for offenders, rather than having jails serve as an expensive revolving door.” Professor of Criminology and Sociolegal Studies Kelly Hannah-Moffat at U of T: “We need to be looking at the systemic barriers to implementing changes that in some cases prevent death.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/inmate-suicide-toronto-jail-1.6943729 (cf also linked articles at end of the first) Related : Blogger Tom Engel on prison deaths: “But when the same recommendations continue to be made without any changes actually occurring, “then there’s a systemic issue.” Governments won’t care enough about the welfare of prisoners until the public demands it.” https://twitter.com/TomEngel18/status/1694338483215905261?s=20 Related tweet from Eric S on prison age: “The average life expectancy of someone who has experienced incarcerated is 62 years, 20 years less than the average Canadian life expectancy. Millions of years of life are lost because of prisons.” https://twitter.com/Defundgtapolice/status/1694438569333428546?s=20 Related article: CBC News – The Fifth Estate – Stephen D’Souza Death at the Border (45 min video) https://gem.cbc.ca/the-fifth-estate/s48e04?cmp=GEM_cbc.ca_homepage_shelfnew
CBC News= Elizabeth Whitten
Nearly 100 vacant social work positions in N.L.’s Children and Seniors Department, documents show – Number of vacancies has doubled in 3 years, says union president
It’s not just a shortage but it is also the increased burden the shortage places on those with already full plates. Given the total of 371 child social workers, the vacancies represent more than 20% of the workforce. Additionally, the provincial department has had four leaders in three years and it appears that the university does not recruit or educate the needed number. Advocates for children may well need to ask how many other jurisdictions are in similar circumstances. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cssd-social-worker-vacancies-1.6942034
Toronto Star – Betsy Powell
Jordan Peterson loses court battle over ‘degrading’ and ‘unprofessional’ tweets, will be forced into remedial coaching – The College of Psychologists of Ontario’s decision against Peterson “has a minimal impact on his right to freedom of expression,” the court ruled.
It’s about pronouns, and feminism and racial diversity. The Canadian College of Psychologists took exception to some of Peterson’s social media comments about gender and required him to pursue some remediation at his own expense. Peterson appealed and a three judge panel upheld the CPA. “In my view, the decision of the ICRC adequately and reasonably considered Dr. Peterson’s statements in the context of the College’s statutory mandate to regulate the profession in the public interest,” Justice Paul Schabas wrote on behalf of the three-judge panel.” https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/jordan-peterson-loses-court-battle-over-degrading-and-unprofessional-tweets-will-be-forced-into-remedial/article_1eb8e121-e2e8-5739-aff9-c91511459d3b.html?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=404CAADEF7EB839FC77B1B04F0C251E1&utm_campaign=bn_196226
Global News – Alex Cooke
N.B. makes minor ‘clarifications’ to Policy 713 after being told it violated the Charter
The NB Child Advocate has insisted that the NB provincial government has violated the Charter rights of children. The government has responded with some minor changes to Policy 713 that do not address the specific major concerns. The focus seems to be the use of preferred names and pronouns for children who do not identify with given names and gender identity. (Education Minister Bill) Hogan) says “the use of names in classrooms will be considered formal and that teachers will not be allowed to use the preferred names and pronouns of kids under 16 without parental consent.” https://globalnews.ca/news/9914354/nb-changes-policy-713/ (Link is a 9 minute video and takes a few moments to load.) Related article: The Canadian Press – N.B. doubles down on LGBTQ school policy after report says it violates Charter rights – New Brunswick doubles down on LGBTQ school policy https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/n-b-doubles-down-on-lgbtq-school-policy-after-report-says-it-violates-charter-rights/article_7e9881ea-e594-56ce-81ae-bc3079885fce.html?utm_source=thecanadianpressnews.ca&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletter%2Foptimize%2Fdaily-newsletter%2F%3F-dc%3D1692887410&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline Related article: CBC News – Adam Hunter Sask. Opposition says pronoun and naming policy motivated by politics, transphobia – Minister says policy meant to increase parental involvement https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-opposition-gender-school-policy-1.6945452
The Maple.com – Cass Kislenko
Crime Data Must Be Placed In Context, Expert Warns – “We know what the so-called root causes (of crime) are … Poverty, lack of access to education, lack of access to a living wage and lack of access to justice.”
As crime becomes an issue in political circles, the question of accuracy in interpretation of crime statistics becomes more important, at least to deliver us from passionate ignorance as a prerequisite to policy making and advocacy. The link offers a 7 minute read on the interpretation of the stats. The article is at once a response to the National Post’s Aug. 8 article announcing a new crime wave “unlike anything else in recent history.” Kislenko references the latest Stats Canada report and the Severity Index. “Toronto Metropolitan University professor Anne-Marie Singh was blunt in her assessment, calling the Post piece “an inane article which defies logic and any common sense.” https://www.readthemaple.com/crime-data-2022-placed-in-context-expert-warns/ Related Tweet: Prison Policy Initiative (Texas) on Tribune coverage of Justice Issues: “Huge loss for the news community in Texas that the Tribune is no longer reporting on criminal justice. But no worries. Incarceration in Texas probably isn’t a big issue.” https://twitter.com/PrisonPolicy/status/1694779116514595252?s=20 (cf Graph on the number Texas incarcerates compared to US and NATO countries) Related article: Michael Hall Texas Monthly – The Apache, the Irish Catholic Priest, and a 40-Year-Old Miscarriage of Justice: In 1983 James Reyos was convicted of murder in Odessa, despite having an airtight alibi. Four decades later, he’s still fighting to clear his name. https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/james-reyos-exoneration-texas/
The Appeal (Los Angeles) Meg O’Connor
Los Angeles Commits Another $1 Billion to LAPD Despite Falling Violent Crime – Police say they need pay raises to help with hiring and retention. But crime has been falling in LA, even as the department reports having its lowest number of officers in decades.
It would appear that policing costs will continue to rise, and by staggering amounts as LA adds one billion dollars to the police budget. “The 12-3 vote followed an outpouring of opposition from Angelenos, who argued during public comment that the police have more than enough funding. Many pleaded with councilmembers to instead invest in other city services, like housing and infrastructure. Councilmembers who voted against the proposal voiced agreement with their constituents.” The four year contract with the Los Angeles Police Protective League who represent 9,000 officers will require nearly one quarter of the city’s entire income in the general fund. https://theappeal.org/los-angeles-lapd-police-union-contract-violent-crime/ Related article: The Intercept (US/Atlanta) – Prem Thakker Atlanta Officials Unveil Onerous Verification Requirements for Cop City Referendum – The city outlined its plans for signature verification after organizers collected 100,000 signatures for a vote on the police training facility. https://theintercept.com/2023/08/21/atlanta-cop-city-referendum-signatures/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=The%20Intercept%20Newsletter Related Tweet: Alex Karakatsanis on Teacher and Police Pay scales: “An interesting exercise is to think about why police are paid so much more than teachers, and how city council would respond to an effort to increase the budget for teacher salaries by $1 billion.” https://twitter.com/equalityAlec/status/1694504835868147727?s=20
Blogger Russell Webster (UK)
Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts
Webster is focusing on a new report from Standing together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA). The report examines the use of domestic courts known as Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts (SDAC) from 2010 to 2022 and concludes that the use has been in decline and that the number of places providing the specialist services has also been declining. The report provides a map but the numbers also speak to the concern: in 2010 321 to 156 between 2010 – 2022. The commentary from Webster includes six elements for setting up a SDAC and the critical role of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). https://www.russellwebster.com/specialist-domestic-abuse-courts/ Full Report: Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse(UK): National Specialist Domestic Abuse Court Mapping Findings Report 2023 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ee0be2588f1e349401c832c/t/64d0e95291df60221027a8c2/1691412819916/Final+report+for+website.pdf