Alana Kiteley and Avery Morettin

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.

Courtesy of Alana’s Uncle, told by Alana’s Dad

Story time...

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