Aug. 22, 2013
The Tri-Cities Now (Coquitlam, BC) – Jeremy Deutsch
Victims disappointed – Prime Minister prorogues and stalls bill C-54
In 2008 in Merritt, BC, Allan Schoenborn killed the three children of Darcie Clark. C-54 was intended to make it harder on all convicted under NCR to win quick release or early parole. Now say the family, the bill will be lost to proroguing and will not be in place for Schoenborn’s first review hearing, scheduled for February, 2014. http://www.thenownews.com/victims-disappointed-1.595519#sthash.KtowgruI.dpuf
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ)
Health equity critical to transforming system, says outgoing CMA president
Outgoing CMA President Dr. Anna Reid thinks we need to address the social determinants of health if we want an effective health care system. “Social determinants of health, including poverty, lack of housing, limited access to care, addictions, inadequate attention to early childhood development and Aboriginal inequities, have been a focus of Reid’s presidency, as has her insistence that doctors need to advocate for Canadians’ broader health.” http://www.cmaj.ca/site/earlyreleases/20aug13_Health_equity_critical_to_transforming_system_says_outgoing_CMA_president.xhtml
CBC News
Province releases internal review of prisoner health care – Review began after jail-cell birth at Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
Consequent to a live birth at the Ottawa Detention Centre and the health issues involved, the Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections has published an internal health care review. The review has 21 recommendations. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/08/21/ottawa-jails-ministry-review-corrections-internal-report-recommendations-pregnant-inmates-bilotta.html Review: http://www.scribd.com/doc/161931361/Review-of-Health-Care-Services-in-Ontario-Correctional-Services
Transformation – Molly Rowan Leach
Six boys, one cop, and the road to restorative justice
Officer Greg Ruprecht responded to a radio call for a break and enter at the local Longmont, Colorado, chemical factory. Six boys aged between 10 and 13 were apprehended and a decision to pursue a restorative justice accountability required that Ruprecht participate in the process. Now Ruprecht is a Police Ambassador for Restorative Justice. http://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/molly-rowan-leach/six-boys-one-cop-and-road-to-restorative-justice
Globe and Mail – Daniel Bitonti
Police chiefs suggest tickets for pot possession instead of criminal charges
At their recent AGM, The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police have endorsed a break-thru resolution calling for options in dealing with small amounts of marijuana. In fact, they want the option to give a ticket for simple possession. While the chiefs did not endorse legalizing or even decriminalizing simple possession, they attribute the change in approach to the economics of policing and the need for efficiencies in the court and criminal systems. But to be able to issue tickets, the feds would have to soften the drug laws and there is no indication of any such movement. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/police-chiefs-suggest-tickets-for-pot-possession-instead-of-criminal-charges/article13869879 Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Jennifer Graham Canadian police chiefs suggest tickets for pot possession instead of criminal charges http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Police+chiefs+suggest+tickets+possession+instead+criminal/8811908/story.html
Standard Examiner – Glenn Ivey, Washington Post
Time to get smart on crime
Ivey, former Prince George, MD, state’s attorney, has a ringing endorsement for the halt to mass incarceration and the subsequent damage done through devastation of families, especially Black families in the DC area. He has five points on how to move forward with the new approach announced by Attorney General Eric Holder. http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/08/20/time-get-smart-crime
Pro Publica (US) – Christie Thompson
The Best Reporting on Mental Illness in Prisons
Here is a different sort of reporting on prisons and mental illness. Thompson has brought together a series of eight links that offer the best of in depth reporting on the intersection of mental illness and prisons, including solitary and capital punishment insects. http://www.propublica.org/article/the-best-reporting-on-mental-illness-in-prisons
The Atlantic – Matt Berman
It’s Not Just Federal Prisons: State Prisons Are a Mess, Too
Berman takes the issues raised by Eric Holder to the state level and looks at crowding, bed shortages, costs and the minimal drop of 2% in the prison population last year. There are 1.3 million in state correctional facilities, making the collective state prison system into the 41st most populous state. http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/08/its-not-just-federal-prisons-state-prisons-are-a-mess-too/278893
Forbes Magazine – Michael Blanding
How Income Inequality Affects Individual Behavior
In the face of glaring increases in income inequality, and extensive study and commentary on the potential impact of these changes on personal and social decision making choices, David A, Moss of Harvard wonders why we don’t see the impact more blatantly, and wonders even if there is an impact. http://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2013/08/19/how-income-inequality-affects-individual-behavior Related article: CNN Money The income gap http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/19/news/economy/income-gap.pr.fortune/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_latest+%28Latest+News%29