The ReeveLaw Blog – Page 42 – Criminal Defence Law Blog

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO GO TO JAIL

“The people confined in our prisons and jails are at high risk both of contracting COVID-19, and of serious illness and death as a result. The initial findings of the partnership “likely represent the tip of the iceberg”.

prison — https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/researchers-flag-increase-in-covid-19-cases-in-canadian-prisons-jails-1.5262468

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER – For example, “it may be that in a criminal proceeding, an accused does not need to appear before a judge 13 times between the initial appearance and trial.”

Michael Lesage — https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion/to-restore-court-functionality-in-2021-we-must-expect-more-from-our-institutions-of-justice/336548

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE – Is this a better process for sexual assault victims than criminal charges?

Marlee Liss — https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/she-forgave-her-rapist-now-she-helps-other-survivors-of-sexual-assault-heal-1.5210449

IS OUR “POLICE CULTURE” TOO MILITARIZED?

20201216211212-5fdabf5410f615321e1720a0jpeg

https://www.sootoday.com/around-ontario/canada-should-police-carry-guns-experts-look-at-differences-in-foreign-forces-3202635

ANOTHER bunch of Assistant Crown Attorneys appointed Judges.

https://news.ontario.ca/en/bulletin/59772/new-justices-appointed-to-the-ontario-court-of-justice-8

JAIL COVID-19 OUTBREAKS – A good read for all those Assistant Crown Attorneys who argued and those Jurists who decided that COVID-19 was not an inherent risk of incarceration.

Corrections confirms 80 inmates, 4 staff members infected with COVID-19 at Kingston prison

COVID-19 and JAIL – There is a difference of opinion judicially and administratively as to how we should consider jail sentences during the pandemic. Obtaining accurate information would be a start in developing a consistent policy.

Toronto South Detention Centre in Etobicoke, seen here in a Feb. 17, 2015, file photo. An outbreak at the jail last week saw as many as 34 active cases. — https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/12/17/legal-groups-say-ontario-misled-public-with-claim-it-reduced-inmate-population-by-30-per-cent-early-in-pandemic.html?source=newsletter&utm_content=a12&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_email=0B41BB051FF7EA38DB4BDD5E33BA3AB2&utm_campaign=tmh_39482

This is unfortunate. Justice McLeod is an excellent judge and a wonderful person committed to improving his community.

Justice Donald McLeod facing ‘capital crime for a judge’ in disciplinary hearing: lawyer — https://www.lawtimesnews.com/resources/professional-regulation/justice-donald-mcleod-facing-capital-crime-for-a-judge-in-disciplinary-hearing-lawyer/336171?utm_source=GA&utm_medium=20201214&utm_campaign=CLW-Newsletter-20201214&utm_content=60340243-7A36-40AE-831C-5923AFD1310D&tu=60340243-7A36-40AE-831C-5923AFD1310D

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ENGLAND IS BROKEN – Are we in the same situation?

“The scale of the courts’ backlog is highlighted today with figures showing that, in London alone, nearly a quarter of a million people are waiting for their cases to be heard.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan — https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/dec/05/courts-logjam-leaves-227000-waiting-for-justice-in-london-alone?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Email

WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS – They happen, more often than you may think. This has been a long road but there’s hope with this: “The Trudeau government is poised to consult Canadians on how to go about creating an independent commission to review possible wrongful convictions for criminal offences.”

david lametti — https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/lametti-plans-public-consultation-on-promised-criminal-conviction-review-commission-1.5223068