Issue 40.2
Nancy Wright Editor
CCJA INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT (BOB) CHRISMAS (PHD)
By Nancy Wright, Ed.
In this CCJA Interview, Robert (Bob) Chrismas (PhD)—retired after 34 years in Canadian law enforcement—discusses his recent memoir The Watch and his new role as head of Winnipeg’s Community Safety Team (CST), an alternative response to traditional policing. His unfiltered look at frontline policing will resonate with police officers yet speaks to broader issues. It evokes systemic challenges—such as failures in child protection and lack of effective, accessible mental health support—that impact communities and overburden police. His novels, The River of Tears (2022) and Dream Catcher: The Call Home (2023), also show how unchecked childhood trauma can become a social determinant of crime, and how routine exposure to violence and victimization — compoun-ded by inadequate mental health support — can lead to PTSD among officers. Both realities are reflected in growing calls by and for peer-informed support for police and justice-involved communities alike. This duality also comes into focus in Chrismas’ discussion of Winnipeg’s trauma-informed CST, which is mandated to improve transit safety but often finds itself conducting follow-ups in nearby homeless encampments. Inspired by Chrismas’ postdoctoral research into officer PTSD, Winnipeg’s CST now benefits from a debriefing circle. The CST’s compassionate model connects vulnerable people to services and eases pressure on police—who may not be able to fix broken systems but are well placed to help expose the gaps. A lifelong volunteer, Bob also shares hope that a culture of community service is once again on the rise.
The CCJA Thanks Dr. André Normandeau
Since 1969: A Legacy of Critical Insight in the Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CJCCJ)
In this article, the Canadian Criminal Justice Association (CCJA) pays tribute to Dr. André Normandeau, a key figure in Quebecois criminology whose influence has extended throughout the Francophone world and beyond. Since 1969, Normandeau has led the French-language book Review section of the CCJA’s Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CJCCJ), setting a standard of editorial excellence and critical inquiry. A professor at the Université de Montréal and successor to pioneering criminologist Denis Szabo, Normandeau chaired the Department of Criminology (1970–1980) before becoming director of the International Centre for Comparative Criminology (CICC). A strong advocate for practice-based education, he helped internationalize the field through teaching in Belgium, France, and the United States. Andre Normandeau’s book review section—which could be described as a “journal within the journal”—offers in-depth analysis of Québécois, Canadian as well as international works. The Canadian Criminal Justice Association expresses its deep gratitude for a lifetime dedicated to advancing criminological research. This section of Actualités Justice Report highlights Andre Normandeau’ lasting legacy in criminological inquiry and his continued contributions to the French-language Book Review section of the CJCCJ.
From Penitentiary to Posterity: Mesrine Through the Lens of Celebrated Quebec Criminologist André Normandeau (PhD)
By Canadian Criminal Justice Association (CCJA)–Ottawa
This article revisits Dr. André Normandeau’s encounters with Jacques Mesrine during his 1972 escape from the Saint-Vincent-de- Paul Penitentiary. Through interviews and recent media retrospectives, it explores Mesrine’s public persona, his challenge to penal institutions, and the enduring criminological insights of Normandeau—an internationally recognized scholar and long-standing contributor to CCJA’s Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Bridging the Gap: A Proposed Leadership Training Framework for Civilian Managers of Non-Police Enforcement (NPLE) Personnel
By Dean Young
As municipalities expand their use of Non-Police Law Enforcement (NPLE) personnel—such as bylaw officers, community peace officers, and special constables—civilian managers with little or no law enforcement experience are increasingly responsible for leadership. This trend introduces risks related to legal compliance, operational effectiveness, and public accountability. Drawing on the author’s own Alberta-based research (Young, 2022), public safety consultant and criminal justice instructor Dean Young proposes an innovative leadership development framework tailored to municipal managers overseeing NPLE personnel. Young’s article outlines training priorities, leadership responsibilities, and educational requirements for both enforcement staff and the civilian leaders who guide them. With practical guidance rooted in three key pillars—organizational policies, strategic hiring, and professional development—Young emphasizes the importance of bridging knowledge gaps to strengthen equitable, community- based safety. His proposed framework responds to a national need for leadership readiness as Canada’s reliance on NPLE continues to grow.
Trafficking Across the 49th Parallel: How the US Trade War Could Worsen Human Exploitation
By Dr. John Winterdyk
There is currently considerable discourse around the potential implications of the ‘trade war’ between the United States and Canada. Much of the discussion from the Canadian side focusses on how to protect our sovereignty and diplomatically respond to the Trump administration’s tactics and overtures towards Canada. This article explores the potential impact of the trade war on the extent and nature of human trafficking in Canada—with effects originating from the other side of the 49th parallel. It argues that increased economic instability, social exclusion, and erosion of protection for marginalized groups in the U.S. may create fertile conditions for trafficking networks to exploit vulnerabilities. Several suggestions are offered to help minimize this and related problems, including increased cross-border collaboration, public awareness campaigns, and demand-reduction strategies targeting both labour and sex trafficking. The article ultimately warns that without a proactive, multi-sectoral response, Canada may face a rise in organized cross-border trafficking operations from the United States.
Locked Doors, Open Risks: The Battle for Prison Security
By Loren Frederickson
Canada’s prisons face rising threats—from smuggled contraband and gang violence to cyber risks and staffing shortages—outpacing outdated, punitive infrastructure. Over 60% of federal facilities predate 1980 and lack the tools to support modern security or rehabilitation. While technologies like AI surveillance and body scanners offer promise, adoption is inconsistent. Indigenous overrepresentation and geographic disparities further complicate reforms. Nordic-inspired models remain limited amid legal and systemic barriers. Without targeted investment in infrastructure, staffing, and innovation, Canada risks falling behind in delivering safe, effective, and humane corrections. A balanced, modernized approach is urgently needed to meet today’s evolving correctional challenges.
Book Release: Staging Prison Theatre in Canada — Highlighting the Transformative Power of William Head on Stage (WHoS)
By Thana Ridha and Sylvie Frigon
The recently released book Staging Prison Theatre in Canada explores the transformative power of William Head on Stage (WHoS), the only inmate-run prison theatre program in Canada. Through voices of incarcerated men, authors Thana Ridha and Sylvie Frigon examine how WHoS fosters agency, creativity, and rehabilitation—offering criminologists and justice professionals new insights into the role of arts-based initiatives behind bars.
YOUNG RESEARCHER CONTRIBUTIONS
Ghost Guns Under the Microscope: New Forensic Techniques for Tracing 3D-Printed Firearms
By Gordy Ha
Honours Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Class of 2024
Mount Royal University, Calgary (AB)
This article presents findings from Gordy Ha’s 2024 Honours thesis in Criminal Justice at Mount Royal University—a preliminary study offering tools for investigating 3D-printed firearms, or “ghost guns.” Ha designed and conducted two novel experiments using an FDM 3D printer. The first introduces a backlighting method that appears to improve fingerprint clarity on 3D-printed plastic. Black’s (2019) foundational work identified fingerprint distortion on 3D-printed surfaces. Building on this, Ha (2024) shows how clarity varies with surface placement and object orientation. The second experiment shows that microscopic tool marks from a printer’s build plate can transfer to printed firearm parts—functioning like forensic “fingerprints” that may help identify the source printer. While similar transfer has been observed on non-firearm 3D-printed objects, this study applies the concept specifically to firearm components. The findings are repeatable, the techniques novel, but the research is small in scale and should be viewed as exploratory. Still, it proposes a low-cost, accessible approach that could assist local investigations—and, with further validation, may offer broader forensic applications. Further research will be essential to strengthen and assess these techniques.
Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the Association’s views, but are included to encourage reflection and action on the criminal justice system throughout Canada.