Aug. 8, 2013
Star Phoenix (Regina) – Hannah Spray
Psychiatric report ordered for teen who concealed baby’s body
A seventeen year pleaded guilty to neglecting to obtain assistance in child birth and concealing the birth of her baby. Authorities know very little about the circumstances of the birth, only that the mother put the baby in a garbage bin that was unknowingly picked up and delivered to the landfill. Now 19, she will undergo a psychiatric assessment before sentencing. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Psychiatric+report+ordered+teen+concealed+baby+body/8755189/story.html
Yorkton This Week (SK) – Thom Barker
Crime and employment stats don’t jive
Compared to other jurisdictions, Saskatchewan has a low unemployment rate (3.3%) but though the crime rate is in a downward spiral, it is still relatively high in the province. Barker wonders why the prosperity has not overcome the crime rate better. The benefits of the boom are not equitably distributed, he says. He wants us all to get tough on poverty. http://www.yorktonthisweek.com/article/20130807/YORKTON0304/130809854/-1/yorkton03/crime-and-employment-stats-don-8217-t-jive
Toronto Star
RCMP arrest two males in Rehtaeh Parsons’ suicide
The RCMP when first involved in the Parsons case claimed there was not enough evidence to arrest. Police are now saying little about the two males arrested for questioning. Nova Scotia now has an anti-bullying law before its house, the Cyber Safety Act, the first in Canada. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/08/08/rehtaeh_parsons_rcmp_arrest_two_males_in_teens_april_suicide.html Related article: Canadian Privacy Law blogger Analysis of the Nova Scotia Anti-Cyberbullying legislation http://blog.privacylawyer.ca/2013/04/dissection-of-nova-scotia-anti.html
Swindon (UK) Advertiser – Scott D’Arcy
Swindon projects win a slice of £220,000 from PCC fund
Community groups doing RJ work with youth are getting grants through the city police that are in turn releasing money from other organizations to those same groups. It’s refreshing just to know it can happen! http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10594717.Swindon_projects_win_a_slice_of___220_000_from_PCC_fund
NPR Reports (US) – Carrie Johnston
With Holder In The Lead, Sentencing Reform Gains Momentum
US Attorney General Eric Holder thinks “there are too many people in jail, for too long and for not necessarily good reason.” Almost half of the 219,000 federal prisoners are there for low-level drug offenses and because of mandatory minimums. Advocates are sensing a change in the air! http://www.npr.org/2013/08/07/209253516/with-holder-in-the-lead-sentencing-reform-gains-momentum
New Haven Register (CT) – David Cameron
FORUM: Failure of prosecutor to correct false testimony frees four Connecticut convicts
Four men convicted of murder in 1996 have had their convictions overturned on the basis of evidence of false testimony never revealed by the prosecutor. The evidence came to light in an appeal by one of the convicted men and then later ruling applied to all four. http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2013/08/06/opinion/doc52017caf6db56683499596.txt
Truthout – Lorenzo Benton
Pelican Bay Prison Hunger-Strikers’ Stories
The author of this letter from prison is one of the hunger strikes at Pelican Bay who has been subjected to solitary and various other deprivations for his participation in the strike. Benton spells out the to-and-fro between him and the prison officials in the effort to force him to stop the strike. http://truth-out.org/news/item/18023-pelican-bay-prison-hunger-strikers-stories-lorenzo-benton
L.A. Times – Cindy Carcamo
‘Dream 9’ released from immigration detention
The ‘Dream 9’ are named for the Dream Act which would give children raised in the US but without papers a route to citizenship. Immigration authorities ruled that all nine had credible fear of persecution if deported and therefore could not be removed. The focus now switches to immigration court. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-dream-9-released-immigration-detention-20130807,0,675478.story
Telegraph and Argus (Bradford, UK)
Log on to read police’s Bringing Offenders to Justice web chat with public
Here is an innovation in the use of police web sites – a two way conversation via the web site with members of the public about how the West Yorkshire police can improve their services to victims and witnesses. The web chats cover a variety of topics. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/local/localbrad/10598034.Log_on_to_read_police_s_Bringing_Offenders_to_Justice_webchat_with_public
Tewkesbury Admag – James Connell
‘I offered the man who burgled my business a job,’ says Worcester company MD
The burglar confessed to another crime for which his involvement was unknown and got some time added but still has the offer of a job when the sentence is finished. Managing Director Charles Moyles issued a call to action to other companies to get involved in the local RJ practices. http://www.tewkesburyadmag.co.uk/news/evesham/10599430._I_offered_the_man_who_burgled_my_business_a_job_
Huffington Post (Boston, MA) – Pierre R. Berastain
Restorative Justice Bill Introduced in Massachusetts
“State Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) has introduced Senate Bill 52, An Act promoting restorative justice practices. If it goes into law, the act would not only give legislative recognition and legitimacy to restorative practices, but it would also establish a committee to assess programs in the state as well as make recommendations for future programming.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pierre-r-berastain/restorative-justice-bill-in-massachusetts_b_3710744.html