Criminalizing mental illness…

May 1, 2017 Toronto Star – Michael Bryant and Graham Brown Judge exposes how we criminalize mental illness The authors, Bryant, a former Ontario Attorney General, and Brown a policy analyst from John Howard, are insistent that the justice system … [Read more...]

Reversals beginning…

    Nov. 17, 2015 National Newswatch – Canadian Press Liberals drop controversial Supreme Court of Canada niqab appeal The most recognized wedge issue in the last federal election has sounded its death knell from the legal precincts.  The Liberal … [Read more...]

Justice at issue…

     Oct 29, 2015 CBC News – Kathleen Harris Liberal justice: experts expect less punitive, more principled approach to crime - Legalizing pot, repealing parts of anti-terror law and reviewing sentencing regime on agenda  Justice issues were few … [Read more...]

The business of detention…

    Sept 9, 2015 Herald News (Halifax) – Andrea Gunn Springhill prison: More money spent, but fewer inmates We sometimes forget that besides being a prison, a prison is a business and needs customers.  Springhill is a medium security prison in … [Read more...]

Bail and over-crowding…

    May 26, 2015  Canadian Law Times – Yamri Tadesse Lawyers predict more overcrowding after St-Cloud  The SCC recently ruled in R. vs. St. Cloud that, beyond the two normal reasons for denial of bail – danger to offend again or flight risk – the … [Read more...]

Warehousing…

  Oct. 9, 2014  Star Phoenix (SK) – Andrea Hill Crowding 'crisis' in Sask. prisons, report says - Study finds focus should be on rehab not lockup  The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has just published a study called Warehousing Prisoners … [Read more...]

Aggressive Seniors

 Sept. 12, 2013  Vancouver Sun – Daniel Fontaine Aging poses new challenges for justice system - Opinion:  We need more attention, resources that addresses issue of aggressive seniors with dementia  Here’s a look at the problem of senior citizens … [Read more...]

RJ and the coffee pot

 Sept. 15, 2013  Times Live (Zaire) – Nashira Davids The office peace corps  Somewhat tongue-in-cheek with a why-not? flavour, Davids recounts the application of RJ to disputes and tensions coming from the use of the coffee pot at the office.  The … [Read more...]

Community development rather than jail cells

 February 20, 2013  Winnipeg Free Press – John Hutton More jail cells won't solve overcrowding Hutton reacts to the failure of the Manitoba government to take seriously the report of its own adult capacity review committee.  The committee’s … [Read more...]