May 11, 2023 – Spending on crime prevention…
Daily Yonder (Central Appalachia, Kentucky, US) – Anya Slepyan
‘Building Prison Cells Over Homes’ in Central Appalachia – Central Appalachia has one of the highest concentrations of state & federal prisons in the US. A discussion of the opportunity costs of prison expansion & how hosting prisons can shape communities.
As we in Canada attempt to likewise turn government attention to more upstream crime prevention, the most impoverished area in the US faces the same struggle: more prisons or more housing? The prison construction would be the most expensive prison in US history. The link offers a radio program (with transcript) featuring two guests: Sylvia Ryerson and Judah Schept. Sylvia Ryerson is a multimedia artist, organizer and PhD candidate in American Studies at Yale University; Schept is a professor in the School of Justice Studies at Eastern Kentucky University. At issue, the notion that prison and prison employment constitute a viable economic future for a region. https://dailyyonder.com/building-prison-cells-over-homes-in-central-appalachia/2023/05/05/ Related tweet from Jeffrey Bradley on Crime Prevention: “@IrvinWaller interviewed on All in a Day explaining what the federal government must do with the funds to address gun violence upstream by funding youth outreach, mentoring, sports, interventions in emergency rooms, and conflict management. Cf https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-92-all-in-a-day/clip/15983333-the-federal-government-says-spending-dollar390-million-five (The link is to a CBC Radio interview with Dr. Irwin Waller of Ottawa by All in a Day’s Allen Neal examining the wisdom of government spending $390 million over five years to fight gangs and violence.) Related article: BC Tyee – Brishti Basu Sex Workers on Making Their Lives Better – Study finds high disability rates and the damage done by criminalization and stigma. https://thetyee.ca/News/2023/05/04/Sex-Workers-Making-Lives-Better/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=050823-1&utm_campaign=editorial&s=03
The Breach (Canada) – Isaac Phan Nay
As mining fight escalates, First Nations challenge Ontario’s power – Treaty 9 nations are countering the province’s plans with a bold vision of shared land management
The lawsuit questions decisions taken exclusively by the federal and Ontario provincial governments since the signing of Treaty 9 (1909-1910) and involving the James Bay and Hudson Bay watersheds in Ontario. The claim insists that the unilateral decisions by government over the years has in fact denied economic benefits to First Nations and places the price tag at $95 billion. “They ask Ontario to bring First Nations to the table as equals and to make joint decisions about the use of Treaty 9 lands, which covers most of Ontario north of Timmins. If they win in court, (Peter) Moonias (a former chief of Neskantaga and an elder in his community) said, it would mean First Nations’ right to control their traditional territory would be recognized in the law of Ontario.” https://breachmedia.ca/as-mining-fight-escalates-first-nations-challenge-ontarios-power/
CBC NEWS – Ontario Today
How hard is it to land a job with a criminal record?
“More than a million people in Ontario have a record. 15 years after doing time, half are on social assistance. Why? And what’s being done to change that? Our guests include Emily O’Brien who started a business while still in prison; Jacqueline Tasca from the John Howard Society of Ontario; Kate Crozier with Community Justice Initiatives in Kitchener; and Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton.” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-45-ontario-today/clip/15983825-how-hard-land-job-criminal-record
Globe and Mail Editorial Board (May 9, 2023)
Police need better, specialized training – not a general degree
The latest Ford government move in crime prevention is to pay the $15,450 costs for the 66 days of training for police officers, allegedly to attract more. The plan is also to leave the basic eduation at high school graduation and to encourage a university degree which the editorial says may or may not be helpful. Following the recommendations of the Mass Casualties Commission of Nova Scotia, the editorial suggests the Finnish model of three year degree of specific police training. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-police-need-better-specialized-training-not-a-general-degree/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
CBC Radio Ideas – Mitchell Stuart
Canada’s justice system favours those who can afford a lawyer, say experts – ‘You can sidestep accountability by buying your way out,’ says former criminal about the justice system
Stuart introduces Marcell Wilson, a career criminal since the age of 13 who has been charged with over 30 crimes, mostly violent but never convicted. Wilson, a Black man, says he knows how to game the system. Danardo Jones is an assistant professor of law at the University of Windsor. His take is that many Black people who are often targeted in poor neighbourhoods wind up in court, and though often innocent, plead guilty. “…he points out that it’s not uncommon for his clients to plead guilty to things they didn’t do. In those situations, Jones says he’s obliged to recuse himself and let his clients enter their guilty plea alone. He’s not permitted, legally or ethically, to “wrongfully convict someone.” https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/canadian-court-system-lawyers-fairness-justice-1.6836073
AR-15 rifles have been involved in 10 of the country’s 17 deadliest mass shootings. We look at its rise in popularity and the politics and culture surrounding it.
The link is to a Public Broadcasting Radio program examining the use of the AR-15 type rifles used in 10 of the incidents of mass killings. The article focused on both the recent killings in Allen, Texas and the incident, again in Texas, where a man drove his SUV into a group of recent immigrants. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/a-look-at-the-rise-of-the-ar-15-in-america-after-8-killed-at-texas-outlet-mall
Tweet from Eric Reinhart on violence prevention: “Evidence shows that healthcare is violence prevention. Housing is violence prevention. Guaranteed income is violence prevention. Addiction services are violence prevention. More police and prisons are not. We need to redefine the basis of public safety.” (https://twitter.com/_Eric_Reinhart/status/1655922854406287361?t=-AUtEjK4dS–9S2Hmj6s1g&s=03) The New Republic (US) – Eric Reinhart The United States Is Crime Sick. Health Care Is the Cure. Politicians on both sides of the aisle spent the midterms telling us that more police and prisons will make us safer. Voters didn’t bite—and perhaps they know better. https://newrepublic.com/article/169428/cops-crime-health-care-reform
Tweet from Jeffrey Bradley on use of funds: “The amount going into effective violence prevention is little compared to the public dollars going into police reaction. @marcomendicino should ensure the provinces are using these funds for community-based programs to tackle root causes, training practitioners, and evaluating! https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Brad/status/1655755863318044673?s=20
CBC News – Laura Osman, The Canadian Press
Conservative MP’s bill on violence against pregnant women revives abortion debate – Activist groups believe bill could lend itself to a legal argument for fetal rights
A bill by Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall (SK) intended to protect pregnant women in cases of violence may also have the effect, if passed federally, of introducing human rights for the fetus of the woman. While the private member’s bill C-311 would urge judges to consider pregnancies in sentencing, and does not mention abortion in any way, “…the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada is urging MPs to vote against the bill on the grounds that it promotes fetal rights, even though there is no mention of fetal rights in the text of the bill itself.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/private-members-bill-violence-against-women-abortion-rights-1.6837875