Crim hosts talks on corrections, complaints
Simon Fraser University’s School of Criminology and the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) are hosting an open forum on Innovative Approaches to Community-based Corrections for Sex Offenders on Monday, Oct. 19, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. at SFU’s Surrey campus.
Keynote speaker Rev. Harry Nigh, a Toronto-based CSC community chaplain, will talk about Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), which are used to support and assist convicted sex offenders who are released to communities, usually at the end of their sentences.
“These initiatives (CoSAs) have been shown to have a positive impact on recidivism rates,” says Robert Gordon, director of SFU Criminology, who will open the discussion. The federal government has reinstated funding to the CoSA program after recently cutting it.
Panelists include Maureen Donegan, coordinator for the Fraser Valley CoSA and representatives from the Correctional Service of Canada and the RCMP.
The event is part of the 2009 Ting Forum on Justice Policy Lecture and Dialogue series and will take place in the Westminster Savings Credit Union lecture theatre, Mezannine level.
Through its police studies initiative, the school is also partnering with the Justice Institute for a day long forum on Nov. 25 on mental disorder and policing called Coming Together – First Response to Mental Health Crises. Mental health practictioners, clinical psychologists, corrections and police representatives will participate in the event, which will take place at the Justice Institute at 715 McBride Blvd. in New Westminster.
Another forum is planned for Nov. 30 on the timely topic of Responding to Complaints Against Police. The event will take place at SFU’s Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver and will include representatives of federal and local police complaint commissions. A panel will discuss the various models and approaches to dealing with such complaints.
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