Justice and Society

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: John Ames Birch <amesbirch403@gmail.com> Date: Wed., Sep. 15, 2021, 5:38 p.m. Subject: Justice and Society (Opinion) To: <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>, <chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca>, <dujarric@un.org>, <aclupreferences@aclu.org>, <antonio.ferrari@un.org>, <actso@naacpnet.org>, <assistance@liberal.ca>, <anthony.rota.c1@parl.gc.ca>, <yves-francois.blanchet@parl.gc.ca>, <YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk>, <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>, <carolyn.bennett@parl.gc.ca>, <calgary@globalnews.ca>, <chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn>, <cnn.feedback@cnn.com>, <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>, <edmonton@globalnews.ca>, <egypt@ad.gov.eg>, <editor@japantoday.com>, <eonline@bellmedia.ca>, <Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca>, <GlobalBarrie@globalnews.ca>, <info@ccla.org>, <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, <media@aclu.com>, <msnbctvinfo@nbcuni.com>, <newstips@globaltv.com>, <newschannel@ctv.ca>, <newsonline@ctv.ca>, <premier@gov.ab.ca>, <premier@gov.bc.ca>, <premier@gov.nl.ca>, <premier@gov.sk.ca>, <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>, <reportit@kxan.com>, <tips@thetexan.news>, <tonews@cbc.ca>, <ViewerContactCalgary@globalnews.ca>, <ViewerContactToronto@globalnews.ca>, <washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org>, <w5@ctv.ca>, <weekend@cbsnews.com>, <media@csc-scc.gc.ca>, <community@cnn.com> Hey Everyone, I have been thinking alot about justice lately and it got me thinking about how we deal with criminals in our facilities. I have said this prior but it behooves me to repeat it, incarceration without rehabilitation only delays the impact on society it does not mitigate it. I say this because many people who are sent to a correctional facility become institutionalized and many commit crimes upon release. I feel that this is because we do not support them adequately enough while in custody and therefore they become adverse to the society that placed them there. To combat this I propose we align on an international system for our prisons to ensure that they are able to rejoin society once their time has been completed. Therefore I propose the following measures: - Defer non violent offenders to alternate judicial options like community service and restitution. - Start education initiatives to allow every inmate to get a degree in the field of their choice to be conducted remotely at community colleges. - Start a job working remotely if possible with a legitimate business and provide them with a working wage. - Start a savings program where the money earned goes mostly into a savings account for use upon their release. This way they are less likely to reoffend as they have the savings to start their life over again. Also they will have a job secured upon their release, or continue their job they started while in custody. - We should also start a program wherein the inmate is matched to a social worker that helps them find a job and place. This way they are released with savings, a job and a place to minimize the risk of recidivism. - We should also start a gardening program for inmates to allow them to care for a life and by proxy hopefully understand the importance of life. This will help if they are violent offenders and help supply the prison with fresh produce to help lower costs. Having animals come into the institution on a regular basis will also help the offender connect to life and help to hopefully change their outlook. -Upon their release they are supported continuously with social workers, counsellors, job placements and other needs to ensure recidivism is the last thing on their minds. Over the years our ideas of justice and reform have changed and I humbly suggest that it's time we look at changing our judicial system once again. A change that will mean we care for the inmates throughout, to help increase their ability to rejoin society. I have worked in criminal law and have seen recidivism up close and spoken to many who re-offend and they always indicated a lack of support once they were in custody and upon release.

As such if we want to help reduce crime we need to reduce the problems that cause crime which is usually a want for something they do not have. If we can help reform the person despite the past, and provide for them, we can ensure that person becomes a law abiding citizen once more. Justice is an entire picture that includes more than incarceration. Rehabilitation must be at the forefront of justice or else we do ourselves a disservice. Together we will surpass all we have done alone. Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2