May 10, 2014
CBC News
War on drugs a global failure, London School of Economics says
The London School of Economics says that “a drug-free world based solely on a prohibitionist model is an expensive and wasted effort.” The report adds: “Based on rigorous economic and social analyses of primarily the U.S., Latin America, West Africa and Asia, the authors urge that global resources shift from prosecution and imprisonment to more “effective evidence-based polices” such as harm reduction, treatment and public health strategies. Similar recommendations are suggested for Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.” The report includes commentary on the collateral damage sustained b y the current policies. http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/war-on-drugs-a-global-failure-london-school-of-economics-says-1.2636263 LSE Drug Report (84 page downloadable pdf): Ending the Drug Wars: Report of the LSE Expert Group on the Economics of Drug Policy http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/LSE-IDEAS-DRUGS-REPORT-FINAL-WEB.pdf
Global News – Patrick Cain
Here’s the sex offender map Ontario didn’t want you to see
Global has been in a six year protracted fight in the courts for access to this information from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, ending in a ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada. Sex offenders are required to register for 10 years or for life depending on the offence. The mapping shows that sex offenders tend to live in impoverished areas and the northern isolated areas of Ontario. http://globalnews.ca/news/1313399/heres-the-sex-offender-map-ontario-didnt-want-you-to-see
Canadian Mental Health Association (ON)
Addressing youth suicide: the second leading cause of death for young people
May 5-11 is Mental Health Week. Stats around youth are a little frightening. CMHA suggests that mental health issues impact on one in five young people and that only 25% of those impacted have access to treatment. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth. Rates are higher among Aboriginal youth. http://ontario.cmha.ca/news/addressing-youth-suicide-the-second-leading-cause-of-death-for-young-people Related article: CMHA Disproportionately high youth suicide rates in the Aboriginal population http://ontario.cmha.ca/news/disproportionately-high-youth-suicide-rates-in-the-aboriginal-population
Vancouver Sun – Kim Bolan and Mike Hager
Part 1: The worst crime – 290 unsolved Lower Mainland murders in the past 12 years
The Sun has started a five part series to investigate the commonalities and the impact on victims of the unsolved murders in the last twelve years around BC’s Lower Mainland. Most of the homicides were in Vancouver and Surrey. The RCMP heads a special police unit called the Integrated Homicide Investigation Unit or IHIT. http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Part+worst+crime+unsolved+Lower+Mainland+murders+past+years/9821136/story.html#ixzz31EM3TpAN
Palm Beach Post – Bob Stork
Smarter justice reforms mean cost savings for taxpayers
Florida also has a Smart Justice movement. Stork is a chair of the Florida TaxWatch Centre and wants all lawmakers to look more deeply into the notion of ‘tough-on-crime.’ This version of Smart Justice is prompted by less prison costs and less recidivism while offering public safety with a greater accountability than the usual court route. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-smarter-justice-reforms-mean-cost-savin/nfrhk
Toronto Star – Alex Boutilier
Privacy watchdog calls for reforms but ministers stay silent
Canada’s interim privacy commissioner Chantal Bernier has asked four ministers of the federal government for review and reform of the electronic eavesdropping currently evidenced among various federal government agencies. Only Minister Clement has responded to the report first issued in January 2014. Ministers MacKey, Blaney and Nicholson are still silent on the issues. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/05/08/privacy_watchdog_calls_for_reforms_but_ministers_stay_silent.html
Toronto Star – Sadie Gurman, AP
U.S. man back in prison after being released 90 years too soon
Rene Lima-Marin served his eight years for armed robbery at age 20, came out of jail, married his girlfriend, had a baby, got skilled in window installation as a job and brought in a steady income. Then, authorities discovered a clerical error in which Lima-Marin was treated as though his sentence was concurrent and in fact the judge imposed a total of 98 years, consecutively. Lima-Marin is back in jail. http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/05/09/us_man_back_in_prison_after_being_released_90_years_too_soon.html