Moore Law Practice

Is this proposal consistent with section 11 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? https://globalnews.ca//alberta-traffic-courts-changes-jus/

https://globalnews.ca//covid-19-jails-prisons-inmate-rele/

A bill has been introduced that would repeal mandatory minimum sentences for some crimes. A similar bill had previously been introduced but was abandoned due to the recent federal election. Minimum sentences have been found not to deter crime and to unfairly target minorities. They have already been banned in many other jurisdictions.

One of our followers sent us a link to this documentary with the following commentary: "The most significant thing I realized after watching the whole documentary is that the staff and counsellors who work face-to-face with inmates are good, compassionate people, but the bureaucracy continually dehumanizes the inmates. The vast majority of bureaucrats never have in-person contact with the inmates, and when they do, it's very adversarial. "It appears to me that those in author...ity systematically keep the inmates in a state of fear by bringing in-prison charges against them without evidence and dismissing the charges at the last minute before a trial. This happened with three of the four women that the documentary followed. This is abuse. "The women have to fight for their basic rights, like smoke-free living quarters for the one with documented allergies. "I was disgusted with the parole hearing near the end. The hearing had been postponed multiple times due to administrative miscommunication. The interviewers were so sanctimonious. They insisted that the woman account for a false charge against her that had already been dismissed, claiming that they had not been notified. They accused her of changing her story with regard to another charge when her description was absolutely consistent with her original account, on top of which there was a language barrier and she was speaking through an interpreter. "It's clear that there's a lot that still needs to change, and we shouldn't let outward appearances, like the fact that these women are allowed to live in multi-tenant 'condos,' fool us. I shudder to think what the women in maximum security live with every day."

Christmas joy can be hard to find in prison, but the human spirit triumphs in the end.

During this season of giving, here's an opportunity you may not have thought about before.

We salute all those who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom.

This step in the right direction has been a long time coming.

"The surrender decision made by the justice minister is a highly discretionary and explicitly political process, unfairly weighted toward extradition, the report says."

"Immigration detainees are not held on criminal charges or convictions, but many experience some of the country’s most restrictive confinement conditions, including maximum-security provincial jails and solitary confinement."

Even in trying times, let's not forget how much we have to be grateful for. Happy Thanskgiving!

On our first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we are not celebrating how far we've come, but that we've finally begun.

What are your thoughts?

Here's a good overview of where Canada's federal political parties stand on criminal justice issues leading up to the election.

This is good news, but what is being done for inmates in institutions where there are already outbreaks?

https://calgaryherald.com//anti-racism-efforts-accountabil

https://edmontonjournal.com//boredom-isolation-and-illness

"A quarter of all adult inmates in provincial prisons have been released since March and there’s been no noticeable crime uptick in said provinces. So, why not adopt these policies permanently?" https://www.macleans.ca//the-pandemic-has-offered-a-look-/

The number is still increasing. https://calgaryherald.com//relatives-of-calgary-remand-inm

We honour all those who have fought for peace and freedom, anywhere at any time.

Here's a great chance to have your say!

"At council's priorities and finance committee on Tuesday, council members heard that work on the project has come to a halt due to a lack of provincial commitment to the court."

https://calgarysun.com//f9c5ce27-11e5-4b15-8db3-d894fb4dc1

Not only are COVID-19 protections inadequate, but cells are overcrowded, with people sleeping on the floor.

Do you think this is a step in the right direction, or not?

Former Canada high court justice calls RCMP culture ‘toxic’ for women in sexual harassment report https://www.jurist.org//former-canadian-supreme-court-jus/

Are there other groups who should be included in this?

https://www.cbc.ca//alberta-carding-street-checks-1.5808568

It's Restorative Justice Week in Canada. "Restorative justice encourages meaningful engagement and accountability and provides an opportunity for healing, reparation and reintegration."

"A preliminary reportwhich nearly didn't happen due to government inactionshows reform has been partial at best, with prisoners still being denied 'meaningful human contact'."

"Many expressed their unfamiliarity with the particulars of the virus, its lasting effects or the typical scope of recovery. They said they had received intermittent and limited medical attention while in solitary, one adding that all he was told was that '99 per cent of you will survive.'"

Lawyer and president of the Alberta Prison Justice System, Amanda Hart-Dowhun, said she supports granting temporary releases to the vulnerable inmates. ‘Inmates, even when they are convicted of crimes, are still part of our community and they are still people.’ https://globalnews.ca//covid-19-calgary-correctional-cent/

What are your thoughts on this?

Even in trying times, we as Canadians have so much to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is World Mental Health Day. This year, dealing with the coronavirus pandemic has made the struggle much more difficult for a lot of people. Please have a look at these resources from the World Health Organization. https://www.who.int//world-me/world-mental-health-day-2020

Is the ability to wear a mask during a pandemic not a fundamental right? https://www.cbc.ca//covid-would-kill-me-says-inmate-denied

It's hard to balance the right to a speedy trial against the pandemic risk. What do you think?

How do Albertans feel about this?

"A botched police investigation, missing evidence, and a wrongful conviction in a city plagued with more than a hundred unsolved missing and murdered cases. Uncover: Dead Wrong takes us through the twisting, almost unbelievable story of Glen Assoun, who spent more than 17 years in prison for the murder of Brenda Way, a crime he did not commit."

https://p4wmemorialcollective.com/pjd/

Do you think we'll see similar improvements in Alberta?

"There have been a number of recent decisions that demonstrate Canadian courts are increasingly willing to adopt more contemporary and efficient methods of proceeding."

Congratulations Rosie Murphy - Our newest member of the Alberta Bar

Where do you think the line should be drawn? https://www.cbc.ca//opinion-freedom-of-assembly-rights-cov

https://calgarysun.com//c21ca58b-9b47-4814-ac76-d3b3193997

http://www.cjwe.ca//siksika-legal-aid-calgary-indigenous-/

Matt Walton was called to the bar today, and we were allowed to broadcast it live. Congratulations, Matt!

What do you think of the proposed changes? https://www.cbc.ca//stefanovich-chief-justice-reopening-pr

https://www.todayville.com/alberta-health-officer-urges-an/

Thank you for being peaceful, thank you for standing up positively to the rights of yourselves and for each other, said Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi. https://www.660citynews.com//calgary-police-chief-reacts-/

https://www.nationalmagazine.ca//2020/the-virtual-courtroom

https://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/001/006/001006-1035-en.shtml

Why won't the federal government tell the Correctional Investigator of Canada how many prisoners have been released early to limit the transmission of COVID-19? https://www.cbc.ca///quebec-laval-inmate-covid19-1.5557590

"The president of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers is worried the justice system will try to delay jury trials as it deals with COVID-19 at the expense of the rights of those accused of a crime." https://www.cbc.ca//jury-juries-covid-alberta-calgary-cour

https://www.canadianlawyermag.com//covid-19-and-the/328925

Are we making adequate use of available technology to ensure that the right to a speedy trial is preserved as much as possible during this pandemic?

https://www.cbc.ca//queen-s-bench-justice-covid-19-1.55253

https://calgaryherald.com//alberta-provincial-court-annou/

What do you think of this sort of technique being used? Part 1 https://thebigstorypodcast.ca//the-story-of-a-mr-big-inves... Part 2 https://thebigstorypodcast.ca///25/tk-beverly-smith-part-1

"'[Police] ask leading questions. They show photographs. They take them to the scene of the crime.' Suspects are given the information they need to confess, [Kassin] said."

https://www.cp24.com//markham-man-convicted-of-manslaughte

"Rates of Indigenous peoples in federal prison have increased by 43 per cent over the past decade. This is a direct result of systemic discrimination and misguided legal approaches." - Kim Pate

Is this something you would support?

It really does happen.

I have had many clients face false allegations and it can ruin lives. The CCMF's Survivors of False Allegations Support Program objective is to "provide a welcoming and non-judgmental environment that enables those who have been falsely accused or wrongfully convicted of domestic violence or sexual abuse, or a combination of both, to discuss their experience, share successes and failures within the criminal justice process, and address the unique emotional struggles that result from false accusations and wrongful convictions." https://menandfamilies.org/sofa/

Are strip searches even effective? "According to Hutchison's research, a prison similarly sized to the Grand Valley Institution for Women had more than 18,000 strip searches performed on 200 women over a one year period and only one item of contraband was found."

This is a unique way to garnish amazing community support. https://globalnews.ca//calgary-indigenous-women-red-dress-

Restorative Justice is better for both sides.

How can a law be enforced consistently without the crime being defined consistently?

"Suicide is the leading cause of death in prison" (John Howard Society, 1999). https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resource/suicideinprison/

A fantastic afternoon of work

"Federal offenders are excluded from the Canada Health Act and are not covered by Health Canada or provincial health care systems." This is unacceptable.