Law Union Prison Justice Committee stands in solidarity with the California Hunger Strikers: End Solitary Confinement in the US and Canada

September 5, 2013

After nine weeks, the 30,000 California prisoners protesting the conditions of solitary confinement suspended their hunger strike today. California holds nearly 12,000 people in extreme isolation cells with no windows and no access to fresh air or sunlight. The United Nations condemns the use of solitary confinement for more than 15 days as torture, yet many people in California state prisons have been imprisoned in solitary confinement for 10 to 40 years.

The Prison Justice Committee of the Law Union is committed to reducing the destructive impact of harsh criminal justice policies on the lives of individuals, families and communities. We are concerned about the long-term impact of appalling conditions inside prisons in both the United States and Canada.

As the Ashley Smith case has taught Canadians too well, solitary confinement is an inhumane and degrading policy that accomplishes no rehabilitative purpose. We condemn the use of extended solitary confinement in the strongest possible terms.

The fight is not over. Prisoners should not be forced to place their health and very lives at risk in order to protest torture. We call on California Governor Jerry Brown and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to respond immediately to conditions that have lead to the statewide hunger strike in California prisons.

We call on Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to listen to the voices of the California prisoners. Canada’s increasing reliance on solitary confinement, particularly targeting women and Aboriginal prisoners, must end.

While we welcome the recent commitment to legislative hearings and congratulate the strikers for the changes they have inspired, we join the hunger strikers in demanding that California fully implement the prisoners’ five core demands, which are:

End Group Punishment & Administrative Abuse.
Abolish the Debriefing Policy, and Modify Active/Inactive Gang Status Criteria.
Comply with the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons 2006 Recommendations Regarding an End to Long-Term Solitary Confinement.
Provide Adequate and Nutritious Food.
Expand and Provide Constructive Programming and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Status Inmates.

The Law Union of Ontario is a coalition of over 200 progressive lawyers, law students and legal workers. For more information visit: http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com

Solidarity Statement September 5 2013

EVENT: Resistance Continues to Harper’s Omnibus Crime Bills (May 23, 6:30 – 8:30)

Resistance Continues to Harper’s Omnibus Crime Bills

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In March 2012, the federal Conservatives passed the Omnibus Crime Bill C-10, despite the protests of thousands of Canadians that the bill would greatly increase the prison population, would not prevent crime, would cost billions of dollars and would have a devastating impact on already marginalized communities, particularly Aboriginal communities who are already drastically over-represented in Canadian prisons.

Harper is not done: Bill C-54, currently before Parliament, could drastically increase the length of detention for those found “not criminally responsible.”

On January 17th, the Law Union of Ontario hosted a community meeting to brainstorm ways to prevent the implementation of the omnibus crime bill and stop Harper’s unjust law and order agenda.

Please join up for an important follow-up meeting, for updates and action to further the resistance.

Thursday, May 23
Friends House – Meeting Room
60 Lowther Avenue (just north of Bloor, near St. George Station)
Toronto, ON
6:30-8:30 pm
https://www.facebook.com/jackie.esmonde?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/511737898888895/?context=create

Featured Speakers:

Suzan Fraser (lawyer): an update on Bill C-54, and its implications for prisoners.

Updates from the four working groups struck at the January 17th meeting

There will time to work together to brainstorm next steps.

Light refreshments will be provided

ASL and child care will be available. Please email esmondej@hotmail.com by May 17th if you require these services.

Hosted by the Law Union of Ontario’s Prison Justice Committee

For updates please check:
https://www.facebook.com/jackie.esmonde?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/511737898888895/?context=create
www.twitter.com/LawUnionOntario
www.lawunion.ca

Call to Action: May Day March on May 1st

The Law Union of Ontario is calling upon its members and allies to march in solidarity with
workers for May Day 2013 on Wednesday May 1st at 5:30 pm at Toronto City Hall.

Click here for more information.

2013 Law Union Conference Receives LSUC CPD Hours Accreditation

The Conference Committee of the Law Union of Ontario is pleased to announce that 40 Years of Resistance: Looking Forward Looking Back – Law Union of Ontario Conference 2013, to be held this coming March 16th, has been accredited by the Law Society of Upper Canada for Continuing Professional Development hours.

The plenary session, titled “Panels Full of Women” has been accredited by the Law Society for 1.5 Professionalism Hours, while the remainder of the agenda is eligible up to 5.75 Substantive Hours.

Conference attendees are reminded to keep a token attesting to their attendance at the Conference (whether it be a receipt, a conference program, or a registration confirmation email) in the event that their CPD hours declaration is audited by the Law Society.