Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Just 24 guilty pleas in G20 mass arrests

More than 1,100 people were arrested during last summer’s G20 Summit, but almost a year later, just 24 have been convicted.

According to statistics released Monday by Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, the largest mass arrest in Canadian history resulted in 317 correctly listed as charged with G20-related criminal offences.

In 187 cases – or 58 per cent of the total facing criminal charges – those charges were withdrawn, stayed or dismissed.

Another 39 defendants took advantage of “direct accountability” – often called diversion – where they, for instance, could give money to charity in return for their charges being dropped.

Eleven were subject to peace bonds.

Just 24 have pleaded guilty.

The vast majority of the arrests were on June 26 and 27, 2010, the weekend of the Summit.

Of 330 people listed as charged, nine were on the docket in error and four were charged with drug offences only.

Cases have yet to be completed for 56 people, including nine for whom arrest warrants are still outstanding.

Forty-seven defendants have had their matters adjourned and will be back in court on or before Oct. 5.

Origin
Source: Toronto Star 

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