Malice murder is essentially first-degree murder. Felony murder is when a person dies during the commission of a felony. A felony can be jointly committed. Each defendant was convicted of committing 4 felonies (aggravated assault x2, false imprisonment, attempt to commit a felony) and upon those, 4 counts of felony murder.
CANADA’S LAW OF SELF DEFENCE IS CLEARLY CIRCUMSCRIBED – In the U.S. “each state has its own distinct homicide and self-defense laws. Some states observe the controversial “stand your ground” doctrine, as in Georgia – or not, as in Wisconsin – further clouding the public’s understanding on what constitutes an appropriate use of deadly force.”
THE EFFECTS OF POLICE BODY CAMERAS
We found a significant effect on police accountability following the implementation of body cameras. Police officers were 64% more likely to be subject to disciplinary action after a complaint investigation. Consistent with the existing studies, we identified a considerable degree of racial disparity in the resolution of citizen complaints prior to the implementation of police body cameras. But following their widespread implementation in Chicago, body cameras largely eliminated such racial disparities.
AUTOMATIC PARDONS (RECORD SUSPENSIONS) – An idea whose time has come.
STUNT DRIVING – It covers more than you think and the penalties are increasing.
A NOTE ABOUT AMERICAN GUN LAWS, IN CONTRAST.
DO NOT RECORD ONLINE VIDEO CONFERENCE COURT PROCEEDINGS – NOT AUDIO OR VIDEO
CANNABIS LEGALIZATION SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL BUT THERE ARE STILL ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED
1. As a review from two University of Toronto researchers found last year, Black, Latino, and First Nation people are still arrested for cannabis at rates much higher than whites. And this is after legalization. 2. Blair was not concerned too much about the people he used to put in jail for weed, who do not enjoy what fruits legalization offer. 3. What Blair did do was add more crime. Handing a joint to someone under 18 can lead to a years-long prison term — a punishment much stricter than handing them a beer. 4. Though possibly as many as 250,000 people have cannabis offences on their records for which they’re eligible to be pardoned, getting a pardon is so expensive and time-consuming that only about 400 people have secured one, as CTV reported.
BE AWARE OF THE CURRENTLY ACTIVE “GRANDPARENT SCAM” – If there are vulnerable members of your family make them aware of this scam.
SENTENCING CRIMINAL OFFENDERS IS AN INDIVIDUALIZED ANALYSIS. WE USE “STARTING POINT” AND “SENTENCING RANGES” AS GUIDELINES AND A PLACE TO START THE ANALYSIS
“Sentencing must begin somewhere, and both starting‑point and range methodologies assist sentencing judges by providing a place to start in the form of either a single number or a range,” said four of the six justices who endorsed starting points. But they also acknowledged there is no such thing as a uniform sentence for a particular crime. “Neither tool relieves the sentencing judge from conducting an individualized analysis taking into account all relevant factors and sentencing principles,”
