The Harper government has introduced a series of anti-crime bills similar to existing legislation in the United States where over 2.2 million people live behind bars. If these laws are passed here, it will mean dramatically more people ensnared by the prison system, much stricter sentencing, and increased criminalization of already overly policed communities.

Come out to a public meeting and strategy session hosted by the Prisoners' Justice Action Committee to find out more about the proposed bills.

We will discuss:
-The current status of the bills
-What they would mean for prisoners and criminalized communities if they become law
-Campaigns that have been successful in stopping similar anti-crime bills
-Discussion and brainstorming session

WHEN: March 19th, 6:00-8:30_WHERE: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), 252 Bloor St. West (St George subway station), Room 2-295

Some of the changes that are being proposed are:

-Increased use of mandatory minimum sentencing which removes discretionary power from judges
-Increased restrictions on conditional sentences (also known as house arrest)
-Changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act including adult sentences for repeat/violent offenders over 13 years of age
-Three Strikes Legislation: legislation that would make it easier to label an individual as a Dangerous Offender after a third serious conviction (with an unlimited prison sentence)
-Reverse onus in bail hearings for firearm-related offences
-Repealing the Faint Hope Clause
-Mandatory consecutive sentences instead of concurrent sentences
-End of Statutory Release (release at 2/3rds of their sentence)
-Cops on panels to pick judges
-Changes to the National Drug Strategy