How to have a more informed debate on criminal justice policy
This post is about 1060 words and can be read in 5 minutes. Under the Harper Conservatives Canada experienced a considerable toughening of criminal justice laws.These included many more mandatory minimum sentences, restrictions on parole, much more restrictive rules for...
Read MoreLatest data show too many people in jails and prisons
This post is about 750 words and can be read in 3 minutes. There are several annual reports that provide important data on the criminal justice system in Canada each year. One of these is the Corrections and Conditional Release...
Read MoreThe limits of forensic evidence
This post is about 770 words and can be read in 3 minutes. Many of the popular crime dramas on television give prominence to forensic evidence. Corpses are identified and murderers caught through analysis of hair, clothing fibres, fingerprints, bite...
Read MorePhysical environment in prisons
This post is about 900 words and can be read in about 4 minutes. This post is taken directly from the summary of a recent report issued by the United Kingdom government. The physical environment is a crucial component of...
Read MoreLack of support after release from jail is a big problem
This post is about 600 words and can be read in 3 minutes. For many people who commit crimes, and their families and loved ones, their sentence is only the beginning of their problems. As other posts have described, people...
Read MoreAutomatic elimination of criminal records makes sense and saves money too!
Automatic elimination of criminal records makes sense and saves money too! Senator Kim Pate, long a staunch advocate for reform of criminal justice in Canada, has introduced a bill in the Senate that calls for automatic expiry of criminal records...
Read MoreHelping to rehabilitate sex offenders is controversial – but can prevent more abuse
This post is 800 words and can be read in 3-4 minutes. This is an edited and modified version of a paper written by Prof. Belinda Winder and Prof. Nicholas Blagden which appeared in The Conversation. The original paper had...
Read MoreHigh rates of child abuse among Canadians in jail
This post is 700 words and can be read in about 3 minutes. Canadian jails and prisons are full of people who experienced various forms of abuse while they were themselves children, according to a summary of research recently published...
Read MoreProblems with education in Canadian prisons
This post is about 600 words and can be read in less than 3 minutes. Providing effective education and training in prison would seem to be crucial in helping prisoners live appropriately once they leave the penal system. Quite a...
Read MoreCrime in Canada: An overview
This post is about 700 words and can be read in about 3 minutes. It’s not easy to find a careful and balanced overview of crime and punishment in Canada, but anyone wanting such an overview should consult Diane Crocker’s...
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