Tag Archive: sentencing

New data on crime, prisons, parole

November 14, 2023

Post #229 1060 words – 5 minutes to read   Summary: The annual report (CCRSO) released by Public Safety Canada reveals important and troubling aspects of our criminal justice system. We have examined previous editions of this publication from Public...

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Youth criminal justice – Good progress but more to do

June 9, 2023

Post #219 1000 words; 4 minutes to read Audio summary by volunteer law student Hannah Lee. Summary: The Youth Criminal Justice Act led to many improvements but some substantial challenges remain. By Emily Stewart, Associate Editor John Howard Society Week...

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Do Victim Impact Statements contribute to justice?

March 11, 2023

Post #212 950 words; 4 minutes to read. Audio summary by volunteer Gilliam Sherman. Summary: Work by US scholar Susan Bandes raises important issues about the place of victim impact statements in criminal justice.   Victim impact statements (VIS) have become...

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Gladue decision not having desired effects

August 13, 2022

Post #197 970 words; 4 minutes to read. Audio summary by volunteer Hannah Lee. The enormous over-representation of Indigenous people in Canada’s courts and prisons is well known. As one way of dealing with this problem, the Supreme Court of...

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CSC fails on diversity issues: Auditor General

July 26, 2022

Post #196 770 words; 3 minutes to read Audio summary by volunteer Averi Brailey It’s hard to find anyone outside the government that is a fan of the Correctional Service  of Canada (CSC), which operates federal prisons and parole.  Previous...

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The costs of mandatory minimums

June 27, 2022

Post #194 700 words; 3 minutes to read   Audio summary by volunteer Averi Brailey   Since 1995, Canada has introduced a wide range of mandatory minimum sentences for various crimes, with a another big expansion under the Harper government. ...

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Harsher sentences for 2nd degree murder don’t make sense

January 25, 2022

Post #185 900 words; 4 minutes to read Audio summary by volunteer Averi Brailey Since 1976, when capital punishment was abolished in Canada, everyone convicted of murder automatically gets a life sentence.  Most Canadians would be surprised to know that...

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Risks and benefits of risk assessment

October 9, 2021 |

Post #178 720 words; 3 minutes to read Audio summary by volunteer Averi Brailey. This post draws largely on the work of Dr Jennifer Kamorowski and colleagues. The criminal justice system is making increasing use of ‘risk assessment’ instruments and...

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