|

Injection sites should be supported

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

Apr 14 2012
Those in the policing community who oppose these sites should reconsider the horrific consequences of their opposition to a proven, cost-effective, evidence-based program that reduces the harmful side effects of drug use, and in the process enhances the safety of police officers and other emergency workers… It is about time we start treating drug use and drug addiction for what it is, namely a public health problem.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Child & Family Debates | No Comments »

Zeal to punish eliminates a useful tool

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Aug 27 2011
Unfortunately, conditional sentences… were eliminated in the last session of Parliament, thus ending Canada’s tradition of granting discretion and independence to the judiciary… Perceived as lenient, conditional sentences… have been criticized by the public, the media and advocacy groups… But the study dispelled this misconception and showed they were being used appropriately… Denunciation and imprisonment satisfy society’s desire to punish offenders and reinforce shared values by deterring crime. However, there is little evidence to support the general deterrence argument.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Child & Family Debates | No Comments »

The national shame of aboriginal incarceration

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Jul. 20, 2011
Federal correctional investigator Howard Sapers, in his 2009 report, says that the gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal offenders continues to grow and that the rate for aboriginal incarceration in 2008 was nine times the national average. This gap will widen and these numbers will increase with the Harper government’s proposed crime bill. The ugly reality is that aboriginals will be especially hard hit by this legislation… Among women offenders, the overrepresentation is even more dramatic – one in three federally sentenced women is aboriginal.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Equality Debates | No Comments »

|