Nov. 26, 2013
CBC News
Canada’s prison population at all-time high – Number of visible minority inmates increased by 75% in past decade
Canada’s Correctional Investigator Howard Sapers is expected to make a scathing report to Parliament today on the effectiveness of the government’s correctional policies. In a Toronto speech at St. George’s United Church, Sapers offers a taste of his concerns. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-s-prison-population-at-all-time-high-1.2440039
Star Phoenix (Regina, SK) – Jonathan Charlton
Expert calls for cyberbullying prevention, not punishment
This US expert, Sameer Hinduja, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Florida Atlantic University and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, thinks that the solution to cyberbullying is in education and response, and that new criminal laws will have little or no impact on youthful offenders. Hinduja advocates a model where schools and school districts are mandated to preventative measures. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/Expert+calls+cyberbullying+prevention+punishment/9211660/story.html
ITV (UK)
Children ‘are abusing children’
Here’s a series of disturbing reports based on a two year study in England and a summary quote from Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England: “Over the last two years, the findings of our Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups have made difficult reading: children, including but by no means always, those in care, are vulnerable prey for sexual predators operating in groups; children associated with but not necessarily in gangs, are subjected to appalling levels of sexual violence; pornography, to which most children are exposed, affects their behaviour, attitudes and beliefs about sex; and too many children and young people are still being failed by the agencies charged with their protection.” http://www.itv.com/news/story/2013-11-26/childrens-commissioner-abuse-report/ Related article: London Evening Standard – Shock at scale of child-on-child sex attacks http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/shock-at-scale-of-childonchild-sex-attacks-8963928.html Related article: Huffington Post (UK) Sex Abuse Between Children Is Revealed By Shocking New Report http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/25/sex-abuse-children-gangs_n_4338409.html Related article: Independent (UK) – Heather Saul Young children ‘are committing sex abuse on other children as part of gang violence’ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/children-as-young-as-12-are-committing-sex-abuse-on-other-children-as-part-of-gang-violence-8963775.html
Mail on line (UK) – Jack Doyle
Short jail terms are bad for criminals, says top judge: Sentences under six months ‘disrupt a prisoner’s home life
Lord Neuberger, president of the Supreme Court, had the occasion to visit a women’s prison and amazed observers by wading into a highly charged political controversy around prison practices. He was accused of looking at issues from the inmates’ viewpoint and included double bunking and the poor quality of food in his comments. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2513541/Short-jail-terms-bad-criminals-says-judge-Sentences-months-disrupt-prisoners-home-life.html
Prison Reform International (UK)
Nearly half of all prisoners to be warehoused in 1,000 plus super sized jails
The British government plans to change its approach to ‘prison estate.’ The plan calls for closing smaller community based prisons in favour of larger and more economical facilities capable to housing a 1000 or more. PRI says that the larger versions almost always deliver poorer quality services. Besides, currently the three largest are all private prisons. http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/PressPolicy/News/vw/1/ItemID/198?dm_i=47L,1ZKZN,6JSCMH,75EMN,1 Related article: Huffington Post – Juliet Lyon (PRI Director) Titan Prisons Creeping by Stealth Across England and Wales http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/juliet-lyon/titan-prisons-england-wales_b_4174279.html?dm_i=47L,1ZKZN,6JSCMH,75EMT,1 PRI’s new publication Mental Health and Learning Disabilities in the Criminal Courts (downloadable 56 page pdf) This pdf is intended to assist court personnel in dealing with learning disabled offenders. http://www.mhldcc.org.uk/media/493/RMI_PRT_MHLDCC_Sept2013.pdf