FIXING WHAT HE BROKE – Harper’s ugly legacy of over-reaching legislation

“The Tories tried hard to tie judges’ hands by bringing in a slew of mandatory minimum sentences for crimes including those involving guns, drugs, and sex abuse. They also imposed a victim surcharge that criminals must pay, even if they have no money. And made it harder to get pardons.” And that’s just the area of criminal law.

Canadian law on Stephen Harper’s watch became heedless of civil rights, contemptuous of the judiciary, unreasonably punitive, and unfriendly to minorities and refugees.

Source: Trudeau must fix Harper’s ugly legacy of over-reaching legislation: Editorial | Toronto Star

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM -Trudeau mandates overhaul of Conservative justice reforms

How can this be a bad thing? “The changes mark a fundamental shift to a less “punitive” approach to criminal justice. Many of the criminal justice reforms brought in over the last decade were ad hoc and ineffective. They were rapid-fire reforms and often came without a lot of in-depth study and certainly without a lot of understanding about how all of these reforms would affect one another,”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ordered a major overhaul of Canada’s criminal justice system. The ministers of justice and public safety have been given mandates to review and dump some changes to laws the Conservatives brought in and bring in new ones, including the legalization of marijuana.

Source: Trudeau mandates pot legalization, overhaul of Conservative justice reforms

POLICE PUSHBACK ON REFORM

American police “have begun sitting in their cars while crimes occur” because they don’t want to be held accountable by being video recorded and “that filming cops is causing an increase in crime”. “Cops refusing to do their jobs is not the fault of activists; it is the fault of those officers who have so injured trust that residents hate and fear police.” Echoes of our police attitude refusing to comply with the new ban on carding.

The FBI Director’s comment that viral videos have led to an increase in crime may instead indicate that police are on strike.

Source: The Real Meaning of the FBI Director’s Comment on Viral Videos and Crime

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND REHABILITATION – Liberals will review controversial mandatory minimums

“I recognize the need to empower judges and to uphold the discretion that judges have in particular circumstances, and (will be) looking more fundamentally or broadly at the criminal justice system in terms of restorative justice and rehabilitation,” Justice Minister Wilson-Raybould said. “Not just simply being tough on crime.” I’m looking forward to a renewed respect from this government for and dialogue with the courts and its judges.

Newly appointed Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says the government will review the use of mandatory minimum sentences brought in under the former Conservative government’s “tough on crime” agenda.

Source: Liberals will review controversial mandatory minimums: justice minister | CTV News

ON REPORTING

There is so much in this world and in human behaviour that I don’t understand I find my brain almost constantly firing off the inquiry “WHAT????”. (This is also the case with a lot of court judgments.) The problem is often found in the media sensationalizing things by skewing, spinning, withholding or misleading the facts to increase viewership and thereby profits. When you go to the source to get the full story understanding (although not necessarily agreement) usually follows.

Irish Government To Decriminalize Heroin, Cocaine, And Marijuana | ThinkProgress

THE WAR ON DRUGS – it’s time it went the way the war in Vietnam went. It was a bad idea, it hasn’t worked, it’s resulted in death, damage, incarceration and destruction and it’s time is over. We wouldn’t even be forging the trail but rather following the leaders.

“Addiction is not a choice, it’s a healthcare issue.”

Source: Irish Government To Decriminalize Heroin, Cocaine, And Marijuana | ThinkProgress

New justice minister faces some of Canada’s biggest legal challenges | Toronto Star

THERE’S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE to restore Canada to the free and democratic status we enjoyed a decade ago. We’ll be here to inform you of the changes to our criminal law and what it means, as they happen.

As Justin Trudeau’s newly named justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould faces several of the country’s biggest legal challenges ever.

Source: New justice minister faces some of Canada’s biggest legal challenges | Toronto Star