Tag Archives: History, Law

Canada’s Bail System is in Crisis

Help CCLA Fix an Unfair System
CCLA is independent and does not solicit funding from the government. We can only do our important work, such as advocating for bail reform with your support. Please consider donating today, if you can, by clicking here.
As you have likely heard, Canada’s bail system is in crisis. In 2014, CCLA reported that 54.5% of all people in Canada’s provincial and territorial jails were legally innocent, awaiting the determination of their bail or the resolution of their charges rather than serving a sentence after a conviction. By 2021/22, that proportion had risen to 70%. In Ontario jails, it is 79%.
Conditions in pre-trial custody are dangerous and inhumane. There are issues with overcrowding, and recreation, treatment and rehabilitation programs are limited or non-existent. Prisoners are often subjected to lockdowns due to staff shortages. During lockdowns, prisoners are confined to their cells for the entire day, with little or no access to necessities like fresh air, exercise, clean clothes and towels, showers, and telephone calls to loved ones. These desperate conditions often force innocent people to plead guilty just so they can get out.
This issue comes with real human costs—for instance, the case of Lesley Ann Balfour, a 25-year-old mother of four. After spending 56 days in jail, the Crown withdrew all charges against her. Hers is the human story of Canada’s broken bail system.

We urgently need to address this unfair system. Unfortunately, politicians and governments increasingly decry our bail system as “too lenient.” This is not the case. Instead, we are facing an issue of overdetention. CCLA is fighting back; we are advocating for the importance of a fair and functioning bail system that protects both Charter rights and community safety because we know the importance of a fair bail system.

Bail reform is not a popular political issue, but CCLA advocates for what is right, not what is popular. We know we can have a system that protects both Charter rights and community safety. One solution that will help to move us in the right direction is making “bail bed” programs more widely available and accessible, and this is something that CCLA is advocating for.
CCLA will continue to advocate for a fairer bail system, but we need your help. CCLA is independent. We can only advocate for issues like this with your support. That’s why we are asking you to donate today if you can. Thank you!  

https://mailchi.mp/ccla/bail-reform-2-2024?e=842f77e716

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/bail-caution/index.htmlGovernment Bail Process Info

HISTORICAL – DNA EVIDENCE OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Mongols and Mamlucks

Starting in the 1240s, the Mongols made repeated invasions of Syria or attempts thereof. Most failed, but they did have some success in 1260 and 1300, capturing Aleppo and Damascus and destroying the Ayyubid dynasty. The Mongols were forced to retreat within months each time by other forces in the area, primarily the Egyptian Mamluks. Since 1260, it had been described as the Mamluk-Ilkhanid War. Mongol envoys to Egypt In 1260, Hulagu sent envoys to Sultan Qutuz in Cairo, demanding his surrender: From the King of Kings of the East and West, the Great Khan. To Qutuz the Mamluk, who fled to escape our swords. You should think of what happened to other countries and submit to us. You have heard how we have conquered a vast empire and have purified the earth of the disorders that tainted it. We have conquered vast areas, massacring all the people. You cannot escape from the terror of our armies. Where can you flee? What road will you use to escape us? Our horses are swift, our arrows sharp, our swords like thunderbolts, our hearts as hard as the mountains, our soldiers as numerous as the sand. Fortresses will not detain us, nor armies stop us. Your prayers to God will not avail against us. We are not moved by tears nor touched by lamentations. Only those who beg our protection will be safe. Hasten your reply before the fire of war is kindled. Resist and you will suffer the most terrible catastrophes. We will shatter your mosques and reveal the weakness of your God and then will kill your children and your old men together. At present you are the only enemy against whom we have to march.[4] Qutuz responded, however, by killing the envoys and displaying their heads on Bab Zuweila, one of the gates of Cairo.[3] •