Don't come to me with problems: come to me with solutions!

I read a tough book [Moroney; Through The Glass (Autobiography, 2013)], which illustrates the complexity, the various departments involved, and stakeholders in sexual violences and domestic assault cases. We have made progress: less domestic violence now than in the past.  In 2010, the rate of intimate partner homicide committed against females increased by 19%, the third increase in four years.  Once a case goes to trial and someone is convicted, the government department and, therefore, responsibility changes. It is highly complicated by the Charter of Rights, the rights of victims and legal rights of perpetrators.

Parliament

I know it's a bee, but you get the message!

All parties and all levels of government are guilty of posturing and obfuscation, right down to community boards and regional councils, as well as school board trustees (Prime examples: OCDSB & Trillium Lakelands DSB trustees in the news). No one seems to be able to work together for a good cause. They should come to agreements in the best non-partisan interests of the public.

My MPP, Randy Hillier, presented a 15-minute monologue in parliament on Monday, March 7th, which he posted to Facebook: Watch Hillier's full speech here.  (You can read his back story below.)

"We've met with all the agencies, all the police enforcement, the Crown, to find ways to help my family ... not to live in fear. But if he's not out tomorrow, he'll be out soon from now," Hillier said. There are many failings in our system, Speaker; many, many failings. And this bill does little to address those failings.

The Premier stated she wouldn't take lessons from me, but is it in her DNA to take lessons from the experts at Interval House? Show your family and friends and join the discussion, is the Premier failing women and their families?" 

CWF stats

He claims it isn't money they need, but new laws. I disagree. it takes accountability, and communication between departments. It does take money to build and sustain women's shelters, to have decent staffing levels, and his party is all for cutting taxes, not paying for services. (Which is what many of his constituents are demanding! No one wants to pay for the services they feel they are entitled.)

After his speech, Premier Wynne's response: "I will not take lessons from this member on how to invest in and support the women of this province...It is a decades old issue."  (There is a history of ill-will between these politicians.)

Thing is, Hillier sat on the committee to work on this issue. Why didn't he use HIS expertise to "fix the system?!" I wish Hiller had spoken about solutions, not laid all the blame on the Premier! (That is, of course, politicking!)
Hillier is a member of the select committee on sexual violence and harassment, which presented its final report to the Legislature in December. He said he's anticipating working on the government's proposed Bill 132, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act. 

What could be done –specifically– regarding domestic and sexual violence and the court system?

(My two cents worth!)

1. Corrections Office: Stop plea bargaining, or build in checks and balances. To agree to a placement in a facility, when we know there isn't a bed? Make details in court orders, with reports to the victims. 
2. Accounting for paroled individuals, including physical and social tracking by parole boards, with police involvement, reporting to all direct stakeholder. More staff to do so.
3.  Treatment: More treatment programs for violent offenders, including anger management treatments. More treatment programs for addicts. Random drug testing, with reports to the parole system.
4. More support for Victim Services programs and women's shelters.  (Although they are doing a great job with little.)
5. More enforcement to reduce access to alcohol and drugs. (Lanark County has a terrible time with drugs and drug abuse. Mother and brother charged in drug bust)
6. System Navigator for Victims. Someone to stand with and for the victims, with access to the prosecution, the judicial system, the parole office. 
7. Which would lead to: Better communication between departments: The legal system: judges, lawyers, and parole officers, as well as victims, well beyond victims impact statements.
8. Restorative Justice:  This program began in Lanark County in 1998.

New program brings restorative outreach 

to Lanark County schools, youth centres.

(Hillier was there at its launch.)

Alberta did a survey

CWF says that while domestic violence is lower, rates of intimate partner murders are up. Why is this?

This decline is partly due to increased social equality and financial freedom for women, which makes it easier for them to leave abusive relationships at earlier stages. It is also due to years of effort by groups who are working to end domestic violence. Their achievements include improved public awareness, more treatment programs for violent men, improved training for police officers and Crown attorneys, having the police lay charges rather than the victim, more co-ordination of community services, and the creation of domestic violence legislation in some areas of Canada.¹⁹

The background story

Debate on a motion for 3rd Reading of Bill 132,
although it was more like a lecture!

This story began in October 4th, 2015. Randy Hillier's family had a crisis when his daughter's ex-partner followed her to Hillier's farm, and engaged in some horrific, violent acts. He was throwing about diesel fuel, and was going at the doors and/or windows, in (we can infer) a drunken rage, as addictions counseling was part of the plea bargain. It isn't an unusual story, sadly. They went into hiding, as a family, for a week. He was arrested and a trial ensued in December, with 16 charges, 4 with max. charge of life in prison. The Crown agreed his year was best spent in a treatment facility. However, there was no room at the facilities. Instead, he was sent to another facility. The Crown expected treatment, and didn't know if there was room or not. There is no feedback from the Crown to the courts.
The Court asked them to give the court documents to the crown attorney. Probation won't do this, despite them being public documents.
The police are excluded from having influence in the plea bargaining. The judge should demand a pre-sentence report, before the bargain is made.
Hillier is upset that the court and corrections didn't talk to him about his victim impact statement and didn't ask for clarification on his statement.
Sentenced to a year, the offender came before the parole board last week. There is no information about its result.

Wynne's been an MPP since 2003, premier since 2013. Hillier has been an MPP since 2007.
For the most part, MPP Hillier spends his time and energy ranting against government involvement. He wants lower (or no) taxes. He is against protecting Lanark County, such as the Tay Valley legislation intended to protect the land from exploiting landowners.

 Hillier's Facebook account is full of acidic remarks and pejorative claims, the free throwing knives of blame, anger and hostile comments. He has a history of civil disobedience, disrespect for fellow politicians, and those who disagree with him (including me), beginning with illegal protests and flaunting the laws of the land. [His son went overseas to fight Da'esh (ISIS) as a solo volunteer.]

BTW

I am blocked from reading and following Randy Hillier's tweets. THAT system is broken! He is my legal, publicly-paid MPP ($ six digits) and he won't tolerate my queries. Heaven forbid we disagree with politicians!

• Like all violent crime in Canada, rates of domestic violence have fallen in recent years.¹⁸  This decline is partly due to increased social equality and financial freedom for women, which makes it easier for them to leave abusive relationships at earlier stages. It is also due to years of effort by groups who are working to end domestic violence. Their achievements include improved public awareness, more treatment programs for violent men, improved training for police officers and Crown attorneys, having the police lay charges rather than the victim, more co-ordination of community services, and the creation of domestic violence legislation in some areas of Canada.¹⁹

Addictions Research

Alcoholics Anonymous has a terrible success rate, addiction ...

In a new book, Dr. Lance Dodes concludes that the success rate for Alcoholics Anonymous is between 5 and 10 per cent, which he calls one of the worst in all of medicine.
“The model has been so popular, so widely disseminated, that people believe it should be something that works,” says Dr. Bernard LeFoll, head of Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. But at this point, he says, we have neither definitive data supporting that it works nor studies about whom it most benefits.

Rehab centres need an accreditation fix

CARLY WEEKS The Globe and Mail

Many centres boast a 90% cure rate.

As many individuals and families have learned the hard way, addiction treatment programs are not created equal. There are no mandatory regulations or provincial standards that facilities or their employees must adhere to; it is a buyer beware environment. 

Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide

Thirteen-point guide:

Use a multi-faceted approach (biopsychosocially-based treatments); treat the family; treat the addictions, as well as mental and physical issues, consult physicians; monitor as lapses occur; rule out infectious diseases.

Approximately, 40 - 60% relapse.

Mother and brother of missing woman charged in drug bust

Police said Thursday’s bust was centred on a 28-year-old man they allege was supplying cocaine to street-level dealers in Lanark County. 

Investigators searched Matthew Fillipoff’s 2009 Mercedes after a pursuit by tactical officers in Lanark Highlands along with four houses... They seized nearly a kilogram of cocaine, Fentanyl patches, more than 500 grams of MDMA, marijuana and hashish. Also charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking are six other Perth residents ages 19 to 59, charged with possession of cocaine. All were released pending court appearances.