Archive for July, 2017

Toronto, Ontario, is often seen as a multicultural city where multiple races enjoy opportunity and equality. However, a Toronto Star analysis recently showed that Black people in the city are disproportionately arrested for small amounts of marijuana possession. Data also shows that Black people in Toronto are more likely to be stopped by police on the street than White people. This can lead to criminal charges with long-term consequences. The analysis compares 10...
Continue reading Racial divide in criminal charges for marijuana use in Toronto...

Tags: drug charges

As the Canadian government seeks to change laws surrounding marijuana usage, statistics show that police officers are increasingly cracking down on pot and other drugs. The police-reported crime rate in Canada has been on steady decline since its peak in 1991. However, Statistics Canada reports that police-reported charges related to illegal substances have been on the rise during this period. Drug charges increased 52% between 1991 and 2013 across Canada. Marijuana possession...
Continue reading As crime rate decreases, charges for illegal substances rise...

Tags: drug charges

In Ontario, nearly half of all criminal charges are withdrawn before trial. This rate outpaces every other part of Canada. A recent report suggests that screening police charges to assess whether they are frivolous charges or involve truly Violent Crimes could be the solution to this large number of withdrawals and long waits for trail across Ontario. Violent crimes as serious as murder have been thrown out by the Supreme Court on...
Continue reading Crowded Ontario courts: Many charges for violent crimes withdrawn...

Tags: violent crimes

Organized crime activity in Toronto and the surrounding area has returned to the news following a bombing at Caffé Corretto. Police believe the explosion may be linked to other shootings and incidents at the residences of former and suspected mob members in Southern Ontario. They are investigating any possible ties between this explosion and other recent Violent Crimes This is not the first run-in law enforcement has had with Caffé Corretto....
Continue reading Cafe explosion may be linked to other violent crimes in Ontario...

Tags: violent crimes