January 8, 2013
NBC Today Show – Mark Potter
Parents choose to forgive daughter’s killer
There is no easy forgiveness in this follow-up but “the experience frees us from going to prison with Conor,” say the parents of the murdered girl, Ann Margaret Grosmaire. The interview also includes the parents of Conor McBride, convicted and sentenced to 20 years for her killing. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41521818/#50384919
Macleans – Andrew Stobo Sniderman
Crime and the new punishment for university students – Dalhousie takes kinder approach if students are arrested
This article, published on Dec 12, 2012, escaped SJN attention but remains a worthy read, given the context at Dalhousie for student justice and the references to misbehaviour / justice at Fanshaw College and UBC. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/12/crime-and-the-new-punishment
Carleton University and University of Ottawa
The Criminalization and Punishment Education Project (CPEP) – Out of Control – A documentary on the death of Ashley Smith
A public event for students, academics and all members of the community to a free screening of the Fifth Estate’s ‘Out of Control’, a documentary on the tragic death of Ashley Smith, followed by a public discussion. The screening will be held at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Social Science Building (120 University Street) in Room 1007 on January 11, 2013 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Kim Pate, a prisoner rights advocate and Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, will be discussing the case and the upcoming inquiry into Ashley Smith’s death prior to the screening. There will also be a question & answer period and discussion after the screening. For more information: 613-562-5800 Ext 1931, E-mail Jennifer.Kilty@uottawa.ca , OR Aaron Doyle, Carleton University, 613-520-2600 X 1914, E-mail Aaron_Doyle@Carleton.ca
Globe and Mail – Kim Mackrael
Prison work programs fail inmates and the public, documents show
Some time ago the federal government abandoned many of the farm programs associated with prisons on the grounds that job focus was needed. This report suggests the job skills now in favour are obsolete or without job opportunities. “The stark analysis of the Correctional Service of Canada’s Corcan work programs, prepared by the Public Safety Department last May and obtained under the Access to Information Act, describes a system that is too small for many inmates to access and offers few opportunities to develop skills that can be applied outside of prison.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/prison-work-programs-fail-inmates-and-the-public-study-finds/article6992471
Globe and Mail – Margaret Somerville
The ethics of pizza, prison and punishment
Well known ethicist Margaret Somerville has some reflections on the her three components of sentencing in the light of an adamant Vic Toews refusal to allow celebrating in jail. She concludes: “So, without turning privileges into rights, ethically and humanely, the balance is in favour of bringing in the occasional pizza and KFC meal.” http://m.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/the-ethics-of-pizza-prison-and-punishment/article6928550/?service=mobile
Toronto Star – Heather Mallick
Canada puts asylum toddlers behind razor wire
Razor wire and locked doors do not make a prison, says Jason Kenny and Vic Toews. They are responding to the 289 children – 75 under five years and 68 between six and nine years – in detention while the immigration status of their parents is determined. Does someone need to coddle a grandchild and practice empathy? In the meantime, Mallick points out the disastrous consequences elsewhere. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1302604–canada-puts-asylum-toddlers-behind-razor-wire
Washington Post – David Brown
Predicting violence is a work in progress
This article is one of the few with extensive commentary from various sources on the predictability of violence among the mentally ill. Stephen D. Hart, a psychologist at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, says ““There is no instrument that is specifically useful or validated for identifying potential school shooters or mass murderers…Most people who are thinking about violence are ambivalent about it. Our job is to find people who are ambivalent and convince them that violence is a bad idea.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/predicting-violence-is-a-work-in-progress/2013/01/03/2e8955b8-5371-11e2-a613-ec8d394535c6_story_2.html
Plymouth Herald (UK) – Sam Blackledge
Thousands avoid criminal records in Plymouth by ‘making amends’
Here’s a refreshing article that rather than argue for the practice of RJ looks at the impact of 5 years of RJ practices and concludes that the number of offenders who avoided a criminal record has gone up by a factor of three. What an interesting project if we were to do a cost analysis of the impact of RJ here in Canada – and the expenses of a formal trial by making amends for misdeeds and the actual restitution to victims. http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/fold-rise-offenders-making-amends/story-17790226-detail/story.html