“Imprisonment is supposed to reduce crime in two ways: it takes criminals off the street so they can’t commit new crimes (incapacitation) and it discourages would-be criminals from committing crime (deterrence). But neither of these outcomes came to pass. Prison obliterates your earnings potential. Being a convicted felon disqualifies you from certain jobs, housing, or …
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I’LL NEVER BE APPOINTED A FEDERAL JUDGE – I VALUE MY INDEPENDENCE
Federal judicial appointments “remain open to blatant partisan political favouritism. They use their local contacts, such as party fundraisers (or “bagmen”) to identify lawyers, academics and sitting judges who fit their specifications. You always have to have a champion. Nobody gets appointed without somebody walking them through, in one way or another.” I don’t see …
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OH FOR LEADERSHIP LIKE THIS IN CANADA -President Obama Takes On the Prison Crisis – The New York Times
“Mr. Obama explained that people who commit violent crimes are not the reason for the exploding federal prison population over the last few decades. Most of the growth has come instead from nonviolent, low-level drug offenders caught up in absurdly harsh mandatory minimum sentences that bear no relation to the seriousness of their offense or …
WE IMPRISON THE INNOCENT -Most of Canada’s prisoners have never been convicted of anything. Why are they in jail? – The Globe and Mail
“On any given day in Canada, there are more innocent people in prison than guilty ones.” Isn’t that a shocking statement? Did you know Canada was like this? It wasn’t always so but it’s become this since Harper has brought in his “tough on crime” laws. It’s become more like “tough on the innocent”. “The …
POLICE CAN BE TOO VIGOROUS
The case against my client involves four different bare bones descriptions plus a license plate of a vehicle he does not have exclusive use of. Police arrest him and interview him, which is video recorded. Identification is the issue. The police officer writes a “confidential memo, not to be disclosed to the defence” to the …
PROSECUTORS CAN BE TOO VIGOROUS – When Prosecutors Believe the Unbelievable
When prosecutors believe the complainant contrary to the evidence ….. then it all goes very very wrong. I know a couple of Crown Attorneys who need to read this. Source: Mark Weiner conviction vacated: Chelsea Steiniger text case finally overturned.
WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY – just STOP for a moment.
BREAKING CUFFS – A tip for my clients.
A tip for my clients. He learned to do this when he was 13 years old. Wtf? How in the world does he do this? Source: Filming Cops – Cops Can’t Arrest Badass Guy Because He Keeps…
Victim surcharge challenged in B.C., Ontario | Metro
VICTIM SURCHARGE – It is a fee added to every conviction that Harper has made mandatory regardless of ability to pay. We will continue to fight it being mandatory. “The fines place an unnecessary and disproportionate burden on people who are poor. The reason why the judges, I think, are finding creative ways to try …
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‘Cultural gap’ not a reason for lighter sentence for Iranian immigrant guilt of raping wife, beating children: court
To all of my friends and clients from other lands with cultural differences and mores, be aware of the fact that your actions will be judged here according to Canadian values with no discount or credit given for the “cultural gap”. Source: ‘Cultural gap’ not a reason for lighter sentence for Iranian immigrant guilt of …