Dumb/Obvious Warning Labels: Do not spray in eyes-Windex Do not attempt to stop chain with
hands-Jonsreds Chainsaw Caution: Never aim spray at your
own eyes-Unknown Pepper Spray Keyboard not detected. Press F1 to
continue-Various Computers Warning: Do not reuse the bottle to
store beverages-Liquid Plummer
Stupid Criminals...
“Raymond Cuthbert dropped by a drugstore to say that he and his accomplice would be back in 30 minutes to rob the place. On time for their appointment, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested them.”
“Moments after robbing a bank, Jules Duprer jumped into a car, shouting, "Get away quick, before the cops come." He failed to notice that the car he was counting on to spirit him to safety was a *police* car.”
“Stupid Criminals- Hall of Shame” The Freeman Institute. The Freeman Institute, n.d. 2 Oct 2010. <http://www.freemaninstitute.com/hall_of_shame.htm>.
Dumb Laws
New jersey: It is illegal to wear a bullet-proof vest
while committing a murder. All motorists must honk before
passing another car, bicyclist, skater, and even a skateboarder.
It is against the law for a man to knit during the fishing season.
You may not slurp your soup.
Rick West Head Toronto Star, 2008Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair wants the National DNA database expanded to include everybody who has been charged and not just those convicted of serious crimesBlaire “ DNA doesn't discriminate, it’s a revolutionary crime fighting tool” Will widening the DNA database really help solve crimes faster?Witty New Title: It’s Not discrimination its DNA?
Widen DNA dragnet: Blair
CBC News, 2003 Holly Jones a 10 year old girl doesn’t come home from
school A day later two bags of body parts are found off the
shore of Toronto Island Two police officers went door to door to get DNA from
men living in the area One man Michael Briere refused to let police take DNA
sample After a month of surveillance and DNA taken from a pop
can Briere was found guilty of the murder of Holly Jones Inquiry Question: Did the police break Briere’s right to
privacy by taking the pop can and testing the DNA after Briere refused to give his DNA ?
Witty New Title: Bag of Trash finds Killer!
Police Lay Murder Charge in Holly Jones Case
Adele Cassola Canadian Points of Views The author argues DNA profiling is a vital
reference for law enforcement agencies. It helps in avoiding wrongful convictions.
DNA processing is fast and affordable with a small margin or error
Inquiry question: Are police officers relying to heavily on DNA evidence to solve crimes?
Witty New Title: An update for those who don’t know DNA is important!
Point: DNA Profiling is a Necessary Investigative Tool
Ontario judge rules current youth DNA seizure practices are unconstitutional
April 8, 2009
Summary: Ontario Court Judge Ruled that DNA obtained from convicted youth offenders
was improperly retained by the Federal DNA bank Said to violate youths’ constitutional rights Only a strikingly small number of samples were destroyed
after their retention period had ended This proved “failure to comply with the provisions of the DNA
Identification Act” Decided that prosecutors must prove why DNA needs to be
obtained from youth offenders- would reduce number of DNA samples
Charter: Every individual is equal before and under the law
Cont.Witty New Title: “Just because I have lots more, doesn’t mean I want you to keep it”
Inquiry Question: If the way youth DNA is obtained and held is unconstitutional, how
do Canadian citizens know whether adult DNA practices are unconstitutional as well?
The youth are considered to be a very vulnerable group in our society, and law. Does that mean extra precautions should be taken where youth are involved or should they receive equal treatment?
Citation: "Ontario judge rules current youth DNA seizure practices are
unconstitutional ." Globe and Mail 8 Apr. 2009: Student Research Centre. EBSCO. 25 Sep. 2010. <http://www.ebscohost.com>.
Use of family DNA to identify criminal suspects prompts debate in US over privacy, fairness
February 10, 2010
Summary: In the United States, familial DNA is increasingly being used Through familial DNA, police forces try to match DNA
samples to similar ones in the database (from past offenders)
Done by examining the Y chromosome of the sample and the DNA in the database
An innocent person could be charged or interrogated just because a family member with similar DNA has committed a crime
This practice is said to disregard privacy rights because innocent people are being charged based on association
In California- used as a last resort Although the practice is legal in some states, it is outright
banned in others
Charter: Freedom of Association
Cont.
Witty New Title: “Thanks a lot bro”
Inquiry Question: Is finding perpetrators through familial DNA really worth
neglecting privacy rights when there are so many other advanced crime fighting tools?
How far are governments willing to go to catch a criminal when basic rights and freedoms are involved?
Citation Branda, P. Solomon “Use
of family DNA to identify criminal suspects prompts debate in US over privacy, fairness." The Canadian
Press 10 Feb. 2010: Student Resource Centre. EBSCO. 25 Sep. 2010. <http://www.ebscohost.com>.
Is justice system blind to colour?July 21, 2008
Summary: Toronto Star’s analysis of three million criminal records from
the Canadian Police Information Centre Minorities are more likely to have DNA samples taken but are
less likely to actually be charged- racial biases (32.5% had DNA taken while only 16.7% have criminal records)
The idea of leaving whose DNA is collected to Judges is brought up in the article, but so is the fact that Judges can still have biases
This article raises the question about the fairness of DNA testing and whether or not it is really as partial to colour as it should be
Charter: Every individual is equal before and under the law
Cont.
Witty New Title “It’s because I’m black, isn’t it?”
Inquiry Question: Is DNA a real crime fighting tool or just a way to
discriminate against a particular minority? Is this just a coincidence or is there honestly a bias?
Citation: Rankin Jim, Powel, Betsy. "Is justice system blind to
colour?." Toronto Star. N.p., 21 Jul. 2008. 26 Sep. 2010. <http://www.thestar.com/specialsections/crime/article/460755-- is-justice-system-blind-to-colour>.
BIRT
Be it resolved that Canada prides itself on having a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that works to protect all Canadians. DNA testing is too great of an infringement on the Charter and therefore should be banned as a crime fighting tool.
More info...
DNA was first accepted in Canadian courts since 1989
The use of DNA profiling is limited in Canada After June 2000, anyone who was considered
as a “dangerous offender” had to have DNA taken (e.g. murder, sexual offences)
First five years: mostly a success but some problems with mixed samples
In 2005, 3,000 matches had led to convictions
DNA matches can reach "one in a trillion" accuracy.
And more...
In 1998, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) advised against a DNA database- violation of charter rights
Possibility of abuse of the system- being used as a research tool
Works Cited
Branda, P. Solomon “Use of family DNA to identify criminal suspects prompts
debate in US over privacy, fairness." The Canadian Press 10 Feb. 2010: Student Resource Centre. EBSCO. 25 Sep. 2010. <http://www.ebscohost.com>.
Cassola, Adele. “Point: DNA Profiling is a Necessary Investigative Tool.” Canadian Points of View ebssco.com. Sun. 19 Sept. 2010. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=p3h& AN=28674895&lang=en-ca&site=pov-can>
"Ontario judge rules current youth DNA seizure practices are unconstitutional ." Globe and Mail 8 Apr. 2009:
Student Research Centre. EBSCO. 25 Sep. 2010. <http://www.ebscohost.com>.
Cont.
“Police lay Murder Charge in Holly Jones Case.”CBC News. 21 Jun 2003. Cbc.ca Mon 27 Dec 2010 http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story
Rankin Jim, Powel, Betsy. "Is justice system blind tocolour?." Toronto Star. N.p., 21 Jul. 2008. 26
Sep. 2010. <http://www.thestar.com/specialsections/crime/article/46 0755--is-justice-system-blind-to-colour>.
Westhead, Rick. “Widen DNA dragnet: Blair.” Toronto Star. 12 Apr 2008. thestar.com. Sun 19 Sept 2010 http://www.thestar.com /News/GTA/ article/ 413851