Based on previous literature, the dominant discourse of 'The Prostitute' was established, deeming it a high-risk trade, among other personal characteristics commonly associated with sex workers. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on a widely distributed provincial newspaper, The Province, in order to assess any meaningful discursive shifts in the discourse of 'The Prostitute' between 1993 and 2003. Notions of risk and discourse were incorporated into prior literature on moral panic theory. With the use of this theory, it was found that this rise in media attention could not be said to be a moral panic, but instead, a moral narrative. The latter term was used to signify the moral dimension of a discourse in which the message is directed toward the victim and pertains largely to a discourse of risk and proper risk management, otherwise implicating the subject their victimization. It was found that The Province reinforced the dominant discourse of 'The Prostitute' by dissociating the Missing Women from murdered sex workers from other locations. Setting them apart to be acknowledged, emphasized the quasi-victim status given those involved in the sex industry. The murders were incorporated into a moral narrative that served as a warning to sex workers, thus problematizing them as victims. Presented as either illegitimate choice makers or victims of social ills and prostitution itself, the problems identified throughout the coverage of this case pertained mostly to a serial killer, while the solutions offered spoke largely to a need to get women off drugs and out of prostitution. This again reaffirmed the high-risk discourse of prostitution, rather than recognizing them as 'true' victims, and considering realistic and meaningful options that might reduce the particular vulnerability of street sex workers. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

La présente recherche a pour objet de comprendre le rôle des interrogatoires policiers dans la production de faux aveux au Canada. Nous cherchons ainsi de possibles liens entre des individus qui avouent faussement des crimes et les interrogatoires dont ils ont fait l'objet. La méthodologie adoptée pour sa réalisation est de type qualitative, composée d'entretiens avec des personnes qui ont fait de faux aveux et d'enquêteurs, d'une analyse documentaire ainsi que d'une revue de littérature. Notre objet de recherche n'ayant pas été encore étudié au Canada, nous avons été dans l'obligation de nous référer à divers sujets venant des États-Unis ainsi que de manuels et recherches provenant également des États-Unis, mais aussi de l'Europe et du Royaume-Uni. Il nous aurait été très difficile de comprendre adéquatement notre objet de recherche sans ces ressources, puisque la littérature canadienne est quasi inexistante. Les résultats des entretiens que nous avons réalisé permettent de mettre en relief diverses pratiques problématiques qui peuvent expliquer la production de faux aveux. À partir des données obtenues, nous démontrerons que les personnes qui ont fait un faux aveu ont subi diverses pressions (psychologiques, physiques ou juridiques) pendant leur interrogatoire. Ce constat est considérable à l'avancement des connaissances puisque le Canada ne possède présentement que quelques données sur ce sujet. La présente recherche, nous l'espérons, permettra ainsi de contribuer à la prévention de faux aveux durant les interrogatoires au Canada.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the opinions of judges and probation officers on the inclusion of risk assessment information in pre-sentence reports. This thesis analyzes data related to opinions on risk obtained through interviews, questionnaires, and pre-sentence reports. This data was collected within a national project examining the overall use of pre-sentence reports in Canada. The introduction also provides a brief overview of the role of pre-sentence reports in the Canadian judicial system, the role of risk in criminal justice, and experience in England and Wales, New Zealand, and Australia relating to the implementation of guidelines for the use of actuarial risk assessments by probation offices. Results indicate that both judges and probation officers strongly endorse the importance of information on an offender's risk of recidivism in the sentencing process, particularly in cases involving violence. Both judges and probation officers also expressed a preference for a narrative assessment process in interviews. However, actuarial assessments were used and identified as important in the majority of pre-sentence reports examined. Despite agreement as to its importance, there is currently a great deal of variation in the presentation of risk information across Canada. This thesis concludes with recommendations on how to improve the use of risk information in pre-sentence reports.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States of America represented a pivotal historical moment that divided history into two distinct categories: a pre-9/11 period of relative security and a post-9/11 period of death and insecurity in which the threat of future terrorist attacks was presented as certain and ongoing. In the aftermath of the attacks, the American government prioritized national security over all other aspects of everyday life, including individual civil rights and freedoms. This prioritization necessitated and later justified the introduction of a potentially invasive anti-terrorism legislation, passed through an abridged legislative process. This thesis analyzes the official discourse in the six week period between the 9/11 attacks and the enactment of the Patriot Act. The research focuses on various discursive strands and narratives surrounding the attacks and on justifications and arguments related to the anti-terrorism measures proposed. The explored discursive themes include patriotism, national and international unity, populism versus prudentialism, war/crime models of terrorism and 'us versus them' rhetoric. The thesis shows the complex nature of the discourses involved and different roles played by various political actors and branches of government. The interpretation of findings is informed by current literature on discursive construction of risk, security, terrorism and ethical justifications of trade-offs between security and liberties.

Dans cette recherche, nous explorons la participation des mouvements sociaux dans le systeme pénal. Nous voulons décrire l'échange de communications entre les mouvements sociaux et les tribunaux, dans l'affaire Latimer. Il s'agit de voir si ces mouvements sociaux mobilisent et actualisent ou non, dans leurs communications, les idées et les théories du système pénal, et d'explorer la réception de ces communications par les tribunaux. Notre recherche, qualitative, est une analyse documentaire et elle s'appuie sur deux axes théoriques: l'étude de la rationalité pénale moderne et un modèle alternatif d'observation des mouvements sociaux qui se fonde sur la théorie des systèmes sociaux de Luhmann. Nous avons déterminé que les intervenants dans l'affaire Latimer semblent avoir actualisé les principaux éléments constitutifs de la rationalité pénale moderne et nous avons observé l'autonomie des tribunaux face aux influences qu'ils subissent lorsque vient le temps de rendre une décision.

The notion of harm reduction has existed in many fields of study for a considerable period of time, but it has recently resurfaced primarily in the field of public health policy since the discovery of HIV and the ensuing AIDS pandemic. Harm reduction has been identified by various authorities in health care as a policy that may help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS among users of illicit, injectable drugs. This focus on health matters makes the development of a more holistic approach towards harm reduction for users of injectable drugs difficult. This study seeks the perspective of users of illicit, injectable drugs in the greater Ottawa-Carleton region on existing harm reduction policies and practices, using a qualitative research design, and employing a literature review and interviews with users to gather the required data. The goal is to determine how they perceive the actual implementation of these policies and practices, what they would like to see implemented, and to see if there is a gap between the user's needs and what is currently being offered.

This study examines claims-making about the Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) in the case of Lilian Getkate, who used the syndrome to substantiate a claim of self-defence after killing her abusive husband. The research is guided by the social constructionist perspective and employs content analysis to determine what claims are made in expert testimony and news media about the BWS. It examines how this construct is linked to the defendant and what claims are made about the criminal justice system's response to intimate partner violence and homicide. This research also considers the claims-makers themselves and claims regarding their expertise. Findings from this in-depth case study reveal the importance of expertise and credentials in claims-making and suggest that claims about the BWS, its relation to the defendant, and the law's response are constructed in similar ways in expert testimony and news media, though much more developed in the former.

Dans cette thèse, nous explorons les relations entre l'opinion publique et le système de justice pénale à partir d'une étude de cas. Il s'agit de voir comment le système de justice pénale rend opérationnelle l'opinion publique dans son fonctionnement interne dans une affaire ou les "pressions populaires" ont été fort présentes. Nous privilégions alors la vision interne du système de justice pénale pour observer ces interrelations. Notre recherche, qualitative, est une analyse documentaire et elle s'appuie tant sur le cadre théorique de la rationalité pénale moderne, que sur des définitions ad hoc des termes "opinion publique", "public" et "population".

This thesis identifies what Japan could do to implement effective crime prevention nationally. It analyzes (1) official reports and announcements from the government and mass media reports in Japan (Chapter 2); (2) scientific analyses of crime prevention programs and policing that have influenced governments and policies in other countries (Chapter 3 and 4); (3) international guidelines (Chapter 5), and (4) a preliminary assessment of the implementation of effective crime prevention in the United Kingdom (Chapter 6). It makes eight recommendations for Japan. The official crime reports in Japan have reported a rapid increase in overall crime rates. The government continues to use situational crime prevention and police. However, the causes of crime can only be tackled by social policy. Scientific evaluation in other countries emphasizes that a multi-sector approach is essential to tackle problems in family, school and community. Review of the effectiveness of policing particularly in the United Kingdom shows that modern policing does not reduce crime while partnership with other agencies and strong police leadership for reform would. Guidelines by the United Nations and the World Health Organization recommend a permanent national responsibility center for crime prevention and a systematic implementation cycle where there are 4 stages; analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

This study explores the needs of immigrant women in Canadian federal correctional facilities. It specifically examines whether they have any unique needs that stem directly from their immigration status and migration-related hardships. My research included ten in-depth interviews with immigrant women prisoners at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Ontario and a questionnaire sent to all foreign-born women in Canadian federal correctional institutions (one institution did not have any immigrant offenders at the time). Seven need areas, which were derived from the literature, were explored during the interview: culture-specific programming, migration-related sources of stress, problems with seeking psychological help, parenting issues, vocational skills, language skills, and immigration-related concerns. Considering that existing literature does not specifically identify the unique needs of immigrant female offenders, it appeared more appropriate to develop the questionnaire following the analysis of the interviews. Consequently, some additional themes, not identified in the literature on immigrants, emerged during the interviews and were included in the questionnaire. For example, some of the interviewees identified additional concerns, such as not having access to culture-specific foods and products; having strained relationships with their extended families; or feeling that their culture-specific behavior was misread by the correctional staff. I situated my research findings and proposed recommendations within a broader context of Canadian debates on multiculturalism. Immigrant women belong to various ethno-cultural groups and both they and the correctional system are affected by Canadian multicultural practices.