January 3, 2013
Alex Himmelfarb – Blog – The Mean Test
Here’s a helpful reflection on what we may wish for Canada in the New Year. The author has been featured in SJN before and is a former secretary to the Privy Council. His article is well worth the time to read and dwell on for a while for our 2013 focus. “The debate brewing about how to measure success is not just about measurement. It is a recognition that we need to participate in a real discussion about what we mean by the good life, the purpose of the economy, the kind of Canada we want. It is about decency and dignity. It is about our political and democratic institutions, the need to find much better ways to ensure that all voices, particularly those speaking for the marginalized, are heard. This may be the only way to restore a sense of the common good and win back the many who have given up on politics, party and government.” http://afhimelfarb.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/the-mean-test
CBC News (St. John’s, NF)
St. John’s school embraces restorative justice – Detentions did little to improve student behaviour
A private school in St. John’s, NF, has embraced RJ at first to confront a chronic late problem and then as an approach to school discipline. The story and video is a good illustration of how RJ functions best as a way of relating and a way of dealing with simple people problems. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2013/01/02/nl-school-restorative-justice-102.html?autoplay=true
Denver Post (Colorado) – Karen Augé
Denver schools seek restorative solution to age-old truancy problem
Denver has established an Office of Children’s Affairs which led to this RJ approach to truancy. The circle approach seems to by-pass the impediments of formal hearings and reach out to real solutions. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_22271575/denver-schools-seek-restorative-solution-age-old-truancy#ixzz2GpUlxZuH
RJ on-line:
Minister overseeing justice reforms emphasizes neighbourhood justice
In the face of evidence from the UK riots, the British government is looking to establish longer daily hours for magistrate courts and to locate them in neighbourhoods. Over 18,000 police officers have been trained in RJ methods. £1.5 from the prison budget allocated for the process and reported satisfaction by victims with the approach at the 85% level. http://www.restorativejustice.org/RJOB/minister-overseeing-justice-reforms-emphasizes-neighbourhood-justice
Original source article Guardian (UK) -Weekend courts may be ditched in favour of longer weekdays http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/dec/30/magistrates-courts-weekend-damian-green
Indianapolis Star – Tim Evans
Judge: State violated rights of mentally ill inmates at Indiana prisons
A federal judge in Indiana has ruled that 23 hour segregation cells violate the rights of mentally ill prisoners. The court found “mentally ill prisoners within the IDOC segregation units are not receiving minimally adequate mental health care in terms of scope, intensity, and duration.” The relief for the prisoners will be determined in further hearings. http://www.indystar.com/article/20130102/NEWS05/130102011/Judge-State-violated-rights-of-mentally-ill-inmates-at-Indiana-prisons?nclick_check=1