With Paul Bernardo’s name back in the news (this time over a move to a new prison cell), it’s time to spend a few moments discussing the role of victims of crime in the justice system, and how far it should really go. Criminals like Bernardo are notorious, and their
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The Cracked Crystal Ball II: Tougher Laws = More Justice … Or Do They?
So, yesterday, a police officer in Ontario was killed. Inevitably, we get cries of “this could have been prevented”, largely on the basis that one of the accused in the murder was out on bail awaiting trial for a series of charges. There’s a problem here: the claim that
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: An Act Of Aggression Is Still Wrong
I’m angry beyond words at this: Transgender Woman’s Jail Treatment Prompts Complaints Baxter said Griffith was concerned about her safety and asked to be put into protective custody. Guards moved her to the protective custody section and placed her in a cell with two accused male sex offenders, Baxter said.
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: An Emerging Police State
For the last several years, I have been increasingly concerned that our governments at both the Federal and Provincial levels have been enabling an environment that is fundamentally hostile to civil society and individual freedoms. In the wake of 9/11, we found the Canadian Federal Government using an obscure, and
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Harper … Linking Him To Ford
In the last two weeks, we’ve heard a lot about – and from – Rob Ford. He’s been, to say the least, prominent in the headlines – shocking most of the time, belligerent the rest. Of some consideration though is the dead silence coming from the PMO where Rob Ford
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Watch As Our Prison Costs Go Up
Travis Baumgartner was sentenced today. He was sentenced to the equivalent of “40 years to life” for a bloody robbery that left three dead. Previously, the standard sentence that Baumgartner would have received was “25 to life”. That was until the Harper Government passed a law which changed the sentencing
Continue readingCANADIAN PROGRESSIVE WORLD: The real “gateway drug” is alcohol, not marijuana
With the recent passage of crime Bill C-10 into law, we can expect a lot of young and first-time Canadian marijuana users in our high school system to do real time in jail. That’s because of the Conservative government’s’ tough-on-crime agenda and legendary disdain for evidence. And, especially, the long-standing societal
Continue readingWar on drugs. NDP vs. Liberals.
I’ve been increasingly hard on the Liberals since the first days post-Chretien. So much so, I’ve gravitated towards the NDP. A prime indicator for me of my feelings towards the parties has been that which distinguishes their attitudes towards the war on drugs, particularly in regards to victimless pot. For
Continue readingCheney chickens out of visit to Toronto
Must be all those mandatory minimum sentences that spooked the skittish Mr. Cheney. Do the crime, do the time must be scary words to a man wanted in much of the world for crimes against humanity. Plus I doubt the recent slaughter of innocent Iraqis at the hand of a US soldier
Continue readingAmerican law enforcement officials: “U.S. is becoming ‘more progressive’ than Canada”
"Hey, this is some good reefer. I just saw the future. It's just like the 30's in Canada only worse!" Harper tells them to buzz off. He is determined to send Canada back a century, if not the middle ages. But the Harper government remains unswayed. In a statement Tuesday, a
Continue readingExcited Delirium: Some More Crime Stats for Conservatives to Ignore
Crime? What crime? The only crime is that the House of Commons is being held hostage to a BS Conservative crime agenda and Omnibus Crime Bill.
Continue readingShit Ol’ Vic ‘Lock ‘em up’ Toews Said
Yes, boys ‘n’ girls, shit keeps coming outta that mouth of his. He, who recently said that it is perfectly ok to use information derived from torture, has done it again. You see, that dastardly ol’ bill c-51, that so-called ‘lawful access law’, is rearing its’ ugly head again. You
Continue readingGood Luck, Mr. McBrearty!
Here is a concerned citizen from the Saguenay region, who has taken things further. Mr. Jacques McBrearty has filed a criminal complaint against Senator ‘sell-out’ Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu following his remarks regarding providing ropes to prisoners so they can hang themselves if they wished. Mr. McBrearty lodged a complaint against Senator
Continue readingVic Danger – Third Eye. Toews doesn’t know ‘statistics’. But he sure knows fear.
Vic Toews doesn’t let reality get in the way of a good ideology (emphasis mine). “I don’t know if the statistics demonstrate that crime is down,” he said. “I’m focused on danger.” Toews said his concern is that the public is in danger as long as criminals walk the streets. The government’s crime .
Continue readingVic Danger – Toews doesn’t know ‘statistics’. But he sure knows fear.
Vic Toews doesn’t let reality get in the way of a good ideology (emphasis mine). “I don’t know if the statistics demonstrate that crime is down,” he said. “I’m focused on danger.” Toews said his concern is that the public is in danger as long as criminals walk the streets. The government’s
Continue readingSenator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu Sticks His Foot in it–Again!
Well, boys ‘n’ girls, here the ol’ Senator “sell-out” Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu goes again! He appears to be promoting suicide amongst prisoners. “Basically, every killer should (have) the right to his own rope in his cell. They can decide whether to live,” And boys ‘n’ girls, like the abortion debate that
Continue readingJymn’s half-assed Predictions for 2012
Occupy will stay underground and grow its infrastructure and goals. More and more organizations and individuals will pledge allegiance to the movement. The media will interpret this lack of visibility to the failure of Occupy and continue to treat supporters as dirty fucking hippies. The year of Occupy will have
Continue readingDecember 6, 22nd Anniversary of the Polytechnique Massacre–With Every Passing Year, We Seem To Keep Going Backward
Here we are again, boys ‘n’ girls, another somber December 6; another year has come and gone and it is time again to commemorate the Polytechnique Massacre when fourteen young women’s lives were lost at the hands of a deranged misogynist. For the two plus years since I’ve started Sister
Continue readingAnother Lawn Order Harpercon Not Practicin’ What He a Preaches
Well, well, well! What have we here, boys ‘n’ girls? A Harpercon MP has bit it. Yes indeedy! Peter Goldring, MP for Edmonton-East has been arrested for drunk driving and refusing a breathalyzer! Apparently, he is has ‘voluntarily’ withdrawn from Harpercon caucus. Yeah, right! If you say so. Didn’t they originally
Continue readingRCMP Contract
An open letter to Shirley Bond BC Attorney General Re: RCMP Contract Ms Bond. It is my understanding that you have no plans to consider recent events in policing in British Columbia before you render your decision on renewing the RCMP contract in BC. The events I refer to, in
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