June 9, 2013
Canadian Lawyer and Law Times – Blogger Yamri Taddese
Why fix NCR system if it ain’t broke?
David Parry of the CBA’s (Canadian Bar Association) national criminal justice section offered this testimony before the Justice Committee this week while testifying around Bill C-54. The Bar joins with a number of mental health organizations to resist an effort “to equate mental illness with violence.” There is no evidence, says CBA, that people will be safer under the provisions of C-54. http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/legalfeeds/1516/why-fix-ncr-system-if-it-aint-broke.html
Canadian Blogger Joan McEwen, lawyer and author
Rape Victims and Post Traumatic Growth
Prompted by the wrongful conviction of Ivan Henry, the article raises two perspectives: what factors lend to growth, to ‘fall up rather than to fall down?’ and two, what is the impact of the outcome in criminal law for the perpetrator on victim recovery. The link also has a link to the list of the wrongful convicted in Canada since 1959. http://joanmcewen.com/?tag=restorative-justice
North Bay Nipissing. com
Truth about drugs and gangs from Canada’s most wanted
Once one of Canada’s most wanted, Rick Osborne spent some time speaking about the road into and out of a life of crime and drug addiction to students at St. Joseph’s Scollard Hall. “I want kids to know the truth about drugs, crime and the gang life,” he said. “The fact that I survived is why I do what I do.” Less than 5% break the cycle. http://www.northbaynipissing.com/2013/06/truth-about-drugs-and-gangs-from-canadas-most-wanted
ABC Utah – Marcos Ortiz
Orem woman deported leaves behind 5 children
Brenda Guzman arrived in Utah at age 6 and was deported at age 22. She got a taste of both what it means to be in a foreign country and what it means to leave her five children behind when she unknowingly signed a paper for voluntary departure. http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Orem-woman-deported-leaves-behind-5-children/9NloPDXcxE2wqDf708LQPA.cspx
Huffington Post (US) – Simon McCormack
Life Sentence for Marijuana: A Look at People Serving Harsh Sentences for Pot Crimes
The article describes some of the excesses in sentencing and the role played by marijuana in the US war on drugs; and compares the US with Europe, offering cost and incarceration stats. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/07/life-sentence-for-marijuana_n_3403504.html
Greenwich Times.com – Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press
Free gun initiative begins in Houston neighborhood
Oak Forest, a suburb of Houston, is the first to see set up the free shotgun for single women and high crime areas. The Armed Citizen Project has trained a group of ten in its first venture to arm residents. Though the approach remains controversial, the training and shotgun give-aways will likely continue. http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/texas/article/Free-gun-initiative-begins-in-Houston-neighborhood-4588825.php
Record Net.com – Reed Fujii
Facility bustling as it prepares for first inmates
Stockton, California, has a new $900 million prison, called the California Health Care Facility, to house over 1700 inmates with serious mental illness. Anticipating a staff of 2400 in guards and health personnel, the prison will begin operating in mid-July. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130609/A_NEWS/306090307/-1/A_NEWS02
The Morning Journal (Ohio) – George Will
Reform mandatory sentences, restore justice
Pat Leahy, Democratic Chair of the Justice Committee in the US senate and a fellow committee member Republican Rand Paul have formulated the Leahy-Paul measure to restore to all federal judges the discretionary power taken away by mandatory sentences in federal courts. http://morningjournal.com/articles/2013/06/09/opinion/doc51b3f8e786f40613386414.txt