Issue 33.5
Editor: NANCY WRIGHT
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EDITORIAL
By Irving Kulik
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Denis Szabo (1929-2018): The Father of Canadian Criminology
By John Winterdyk
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C-75: Bail and Administration of Justice Offences
By François Boillat-Madfouny
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The Centre for Justice Exchange – Bishop’s University
By Vicki Chartrand and Emily Lampron
YOUNG RESEARCHER CONTRIBUTIONS
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Canadian Penal Populism: The Politicization of Criminal Justice Policy
By Eduardo Arciniega
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Is Sex-Selective Abortion a Global Issue?
By Kayleigh McDonald
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Renée, Reflections & Respect
By R. E. Bob Brown
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Abstracts
DENIS SZABO (1929-2018)1: THE FATHER OF CANADIAN CRIMINOLOGY
John Winterdyk
Article available at www.justicereport.ca.
C-75: BAIL AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE OFFENCES
François Boillat-Madfouny
Policy Review Committee Member (CCJA), CCJA Director (Representative of Quebec), Prosecutor (City of Montreal)
Boillat-Madfouny reports on two of the many facets of our criminal justice system that Bill C-75 aims to reform (bail and administration of justice offences). Offering a short commentary addressing what the author considers to be the key aspects of the changes, as well as their appropriateness in terms of public penal policy, this article also provides a brief overview of the current regime.
THE CENTRE FOR JUSTICE EXCHANGE – BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY
Vicki Chartrand & Emily Lampron
The Centre for Justice Exchange was conceptualized in 2012 and is currently running in the Bishop’s University Sociology Department. The group is comprised of academic, student, and individual volunteers who respond to information requests from people in prisons across Canada. This outreach aims to advance more consultative and inclusive forms of justice and accountability and is predicated on the belief that without access and resources, people in prison are isolated from much needed supports and information. The Centre recently held its first prison art exhibit (Representations of Justice, see ubishops.ca/event/the-centre-for-justice-exchange-presents-prisonart- exhibition) at which Reuben Robertson, a Mi’gmaq/Acadian, speaking on his own incarceration experience, highlighted the inherent power dynamics at play within the Canadian criminal justice system.
CANADIAN PENAL POPULISM: THE POLITICIZATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY
Eduardo Arciniega
Undergraduate student – Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies, Mount Royal University (Calgary, AB)
This article discusses some of the controversies over Bill C-10, enacted as the Safe Streets and Communities Act, within a framework of penal populism. The author argues that because public opinion affects political decision making, penal populism can be used, as in the case of C-10, to drive a political will embracing harsher penalties and to win votes. While crime rates in Canada had been either relatively stable or on the decline, Arciniega points out that the political discourse on C-10 made the opposite seem true. In so doing, reports the author, the then government rallied public support for increased sanction severity that included new minimum mandatory sentences (thereby limiting judicial discretion), harsher sentences for young offenders, and fewer conditional sentences while causing evidence-based and best-practice models to be neglected. This article is based on an undergraduate Honors project supervised by Dr. John Winterdyk of Mount Royal University (Calgary, AB).
IS SEX-SELECTIVE ABORTION A GLOBAL ISSUE?
Kayleigh McDonald
Undergrad. Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies, Mount Royal University (Calgary, AB)
This article offers an interesting look at some of the causes and repercussions of sex-selective abortion, which is a form of femicide, in China and India. Sex-selective abortion has skewed sex ratios in those countries by increasing the proportion of males to the point of creating a significant gender imbalance that has sociocultural and economic consequences. This is of interest to Canadians, as the author points out that such practices seem to be occurring in Canada among immigrant populations from those countries. This article is based on an undergraduate Honors project, supervised by Dr. John Winterdyk of Mount Royal University (Calgary, AB).
RENÉE COLLETTE, REFLECTIONS & RESPECT
R. E. Bob Brown
Independent Criminal Justice Consultant
This tribute to Renée Collette, who strived “to make the world a better place’’, was put together by R. E. Bob Brown (Independent Criminal Justice Consultant) and offers the sentiments of a number of people who knew and worked with Renée, a Québec Parole Board Member (1984-1987) and Chairperson (1987-1997). As Monica Morris, Executive Director, Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI) points out, “Renée’s reach went far beyond Canada’s border. Renée served APAI from its earliest days in every elected and appointed position that our Constitution embodies, and… her representation and promotion of the international criminal justice community… made APAI the strong International Association it is today.” Perhaps CCJA Past President, John Braithwaite, sums it up best in characterizing Renée as “a charming, constant champion for a more humane, equitable and effective justice system – for Canada and, beyond that, for all humanity. A daunting commitment, but one she faced with characteristic cheer, courage and contagious optimism. Her contributions on both the international scene and in Canada were significant and her influence and personal touch far outreached her formal offices. Her presence and personality brought hope to offenders, inspired efforts of policy makers and encouraged practitioners. She lifted the spirits of all who knew her and made the world a bit more positive and hopeful for all involved in the pursuit of a better system. She certainly touched me and all who knew her in the CCJA and untold offenders, colleagues, citizens and victims’’.
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.