Solitary confinement trial is a go!
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- Published on Tuesday, 27 June 2017 14:00
- Written by editor
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Hello again!
I've got good news.
Yesterday, I let you know that Canada had once again tried to delay our court challenge to long-term solitary confinement.
Today, I am very pleased to share that the BC Supreme Court has rejected Canada's attempt to delay our case.
We start a nine-week trial one week from today on July 4, 2017.
The Court's decision recognizes that the concerns raised by our case deserve to be heard, and those who have suffered under the current law for the last 25 years deserve their day in court.
Andrew Beckerman has offered a matching challenge of up to $1000 to anyone who donates in the next three days to support our challenge to solitary confinement.
Click here to donate now and have your gift automatically doubled.
Canada's delay tactics have put further strain on the Association's resources. Thankfully, we can weather whatever the government throws at us through the support of our community.
Will you join us in ending what has been called "the most individually destructive, psychologically crippling, and socially alienating experience that could conceivably exist within the borders of the country"? 1
Together we can put an end to this cruel and unusual practice, but we can't do it without you.
Talk soon,
Charlotte Kingston, Director of Community Engagement
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Days before our historic trial challenging solitary confinement is set to begin, the federal government is asking to delay again.
On Friday, lawyers for the BCCLA and the John Howard Society of Canada (JHSC) appeared in court to resist an attempt by the government of Canada to adjourn our case.
Tomorrow, just one week before the July 4 start date, we should know what the judge decides.
This adjournment request is just the latest in a long series of delay tactics on the issue of solitary confinement.
Real reforms have been recommended by Canadian legal experts for decades. Ashley Smith died in a segregation cell 10 years ago. Our lawsuit was filed two and a half years ago, and Canada has already had one adjournment.
Now, with our trial date looming, Canada has tried to prevent those who have suffered under the current law for the last 25 years from having their day in court.
With each new attempt to delay we are faced with costs to change the schedules for our witnesses and experts.
Canada sought the adjournment of our upcoming July 4th trial the day after legislation was proposed making amendments to certain aspects of the solitary confinement regime.
We strongly oppose the adjournment because the proposed law still does not comply with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its introduction at the 11th hour should not derail a trial that has been years in the making.
What happened to Ashley Smith is still possible under the proposed law.
Under both Bill C-56 and the current unconstitutional law, all of the decision-making power remains with correctional officials. There are no time limits or caps on the amount of time a person can spend in solitary.
All the bill does is create more paperwork to keep a person in a solitary cell.
Your support will help our case, the first ever comprehensive constitutional challenge to longterm solitary confinement, get its day in court.
Thank you for fighting with us for justice, not torture.
Sincerely,
Charlotte Kingston,
Director of Community Engagement, and the BCCLA team
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1. Jackson, Michael. "Justice Behind the Walls", Canadian prison expert.
