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Human Rights-Migration-Trafficking-Slavery-History-Memoirs-Philosophy

The Innocents Abroad

By Mark Twain

From Wikipedia: The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress is a travel book by American author Mark Twain. Published in 1869, it humorously chronicles what Twain called his "Great Pleasure Excursion" on board the chartered steamship Quaker City (formerly USS Quaker City) through Europe and the Holy Land with a group of American travelers in 1867. The five-month voyage included numerous side trips on land. The book, which sometimes appears with the subtitle "The New Pilgrim's Progress", became the best-selling of Twain's works during his lifetime,[2] as well as one of the best-selling travel books of all time.[3]

American Publishing Company. 1869[1]. 674p.

The Enforcement of Morals

By Patrick Devlin

From the cover: The limits of individual freedom within society-the boundaries of the public and the private in the realm of morals, and the point at which the law may e n t e ra r e the core concern of these seven essays by a prominent British jurist. Linked by their interest in the con- nection between morality and the law, they consider in detail the relation of moral law to various branches of criminal law, the quasi- criminal law, the law of tort, the laws of contract and of marriage.

For the force of its commands and prohibitions morality still depends heavily on religion, but in our secular society law may no longer be justified by religious belief. The law, Lord Devlin argues, must be concerned solely with the facts of common morality, rather than with any philosophical or religious conception of how it ought to be; what the law-maker has to ascertain is not the "true" belief. but the common belief; those who serve the law have a duty to defend "the law as it is, morality as it is. freedom as it is--none of them perfect, but the things that their society has got, and must not let go."

Lord Devlin disputes the contention in the Wolfenden report on homosexuality that there is a realm of private morality which lies outside the law. In either case, he asserts. the argument depends upon the definition of the private and the public realm. In this regard he considers the doctrine of John Stuart Mill contained in On Liberty, from which many arguments on public and private freedom derive.

London. Oxford University Press. 1965. 149p. CONTAINS MARK-UP.

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul: Public Assistance, Monetary Sanctions, and Financial Double-Dealing in America

By Bryan L. SykesMeghan BallardAndrea GiuffreRebecca GoodsellDaniela KaiserVicente Celestino MataJustin Sola

Research on punishment and inequality finds that people with criminal records routinely avoid systems of surveillance. Yet scholarship on monetary sanctions shows that many people experiencing poverty with criminal legal system debt are also involved with the state in other domains of social life. How can these literatures be resolved? In this article, we posit that past research can be reconciled through a focus on financial double-dealing—disparate and contradictory economic entanglements that redistribute welfare resources from individuals to the criminal legal system and its institutional affiliates. Drawing on nationally representative survey data, as well as unique data collected on people with monetary sanctions in seven states, we find that individuals and families receiving cash and noncash public assistance are significantly more likely to owe monetary sanctions and are less likely to pay them. We discuss the implications of multiple-system involvement for ongoing surveillance.

RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences January 2022, 8 (1) 148-178

Punishing Immigrants: The Consequences of Monetary Sanctions in the Crimmigration System

By Amairini Sanchez, Michele Cadigan, Dayo Abels-Sullivan, Bryan L. Sykes

 Research on crimmigration—the intersection where criminal and immigration law meet—shows that immigrants are increasingly punished and deported as a consequence of a criminal conviction. We investigate how immigration status shapes the imposition of monetary sanctions. By drawing on interview and court observational data from four states, we demonstrate that the legal opaqueness at the intersection of the crimmigration system often results in crimmigration sanctions—enhanced financial and nonfinancial penalties that are the result of an undocumented immigrant’s liminal legality. Findings show that immigrants are financially exploited through gaps in criminal and immigration law that allow for crimmigration sanctions in the form of bail predation and the exchange of higher financial penalties for reduced or no jail time, lessening an undocumented immigrant’s risk of deportation. The implications of these practices for due process are discussed in detail 

: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences January 2022, 8 (2) 76-97;

Pictures From Italy

By Charles Dickens. With 8 Illustrations By Marcus Stone, R.A.

From Wikipedia; “Pictures from Italy is a travelogue by Charles Dickens, written in 1846. The book reveals the concerns of its author as he presents, according to Kate Flint, the country "like a chaotic magic-lantern show, fascinated both by the spectacle it offers, and by himself as spectator…”

London Chapman & Hall, Ltd. 1913. 200p.

Towards Race Equality. A survey of Black, Asian and minority ethnic prisoners, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller individuals and foreign nationals across the women’s estate in England Report l

By The Criminal Justice Alliance

  This study seeks to expand on the limited evidence published to date on the experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic women prisoners3 (Buncy and Ahmed, 2014; Cox and Sacks-Jones, 2017; Prison Reform Trust, 2017). It aims to better understand and amplify the diverse experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic prisoners, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, as well as foreign nationals, across the women’s prison estate in England. This report recognises that the survey respondents are not a homogenous group. They encompass various identities and ethnicities, resulting in a range of lived experiences, both between and within groups. The discrimination experienced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic prisoners held in women’s establishments is multi-layered, with intersectional identities: ethnicity, race, religion, social class, sexual orientation, nationality and gender. Intersectionality recognises that, as individuals are made up of several identities, they may experience multiple interwoven prejudices. For example, women may experience gendered discrimination, and women from minoritised communities could simultaneously face additional forms of discrimination. The findings in this report were gathered by interviewing and surveying individuals within the project’s scope. It presents their perception of (un)fair treatment and the extent to which the prison meets their cultural needs. It provides further detail on incidents of discrimination and the establishment’s response. It addresses the language barriers faced by those whose first language is not English. It also provides examples of positive practice and suggestions for future activities that raise awareness of cultural practices and celebrate religious traditions.  

London: The Criminal Justice Alliance, 2022. 84p.

Towards Race Equality: Exploring the effectiveness of Independent Monitoring Boards at monitoring outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic women in prison.

By  Amal Ali and Hannah Pittaway  

  This ground-breaking project centres on the lived experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic women in prison, and comes at a time when there is increased attention on race and gender inequality in the criminal justice system, but the combination of these issues rarely receives any government attention. We received over 300 survey responses from women in prison, prison staff and IMBs, improving our understanding of the double disadvantage that women from minority ethnic backgrounds face. We are very grateful to the women with lived experience who co-designed the survey and all those in custody for their honesty and openness when completing it. Their accounts of direct and indirect racism and poor treatment are shocking and distressing. Even more upsetting is their sense of fatalism - they see it as part of their everyday lives. The women lack confidence in the complaints system, do not trust that they will be treated fairly and are often unaware of how the IMB can help. The impact of the pandemic has made this worse. There is an urgent need to address these issues nationally and locally. IMBs play an important role given their day-to-day presence in prisons. Community scrutiny is a vital tool to hold criminal justice agencies to account. The CJA has focused on improving community scrutiny for several years looking at police powers, police custody and now prison custody. We consistently see the same themes: the need for better and more consistent data collection and analysis, more effective equalities training and support, and for community volunteers to be more representative of the populations in the criminal justice system. The recommendations in these reports map out sensible steps Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and IMBs can take to make positive change and I hope to see them being implemented with haste.    

London: Criminal Justice Alliance, 2022. 38p.

Correcting Racial Injustice: Forensic DNA Technology and the Exoneration of the Wrongfully Convicted

By Rocco d’Este and Noam Yuchtman 

 

We study the effects of laws streamlining access to post-conviction forensic DNA technology (“DNA laws”). We present a conceptual framework in which DNA laws’ effects differ by race due to unequal access to non-DNA exoneration technologies. Consistent with the framework’s predictions, we find that DNA laws: (i) increased DNA-based exonerations for Blacks and non-Blacks; (ii) increased total exonerations for Blacks, while non-Blacks exhibit substitution across exoneration technologies and smaller effects on total exonerations. We estimate that without DNA laws, around 100 wrongfully convicted Black Americans would have died in prison, with wrongfully convicted Blacks spending over 1,800 additional years imprisoned.  

 

Bonn, Germany:  IZA – Institute of Labor Economics,  2023. 65p.

Guest User
The Calendar of Saints

Compiled By Vincent Cronin

From the introduction: “…With the portrayal of saints, on the other hand, artists have felt no nced to transcend the limitations of time and place. Such portraits accurately reflect the ciilization which gave them birth, without, however, being merely local or national. Hagio-iconography has scldom been tainted by chauvinism. St George, a martyr in Palestine, is patron saint of England, while St Nicholas is honoured no less in Italy than in Russia. I can remember my surprise and delight in finding a stained- glass window of St Thomas à Becket in a church in Sicily, and a picture of St Theresa of Lisieux in a peasant cottage in the depths of Yugoslavia. The portrayal of saints, though some may regard it as merely a side-line in the history of Western civilization, can actually claim to be one of its most central and distinctive features…”

Westminster. Newman Press. 1963. 381p.

A Typology of Trafficking Cases in Albania

By Aidan Mcquade, Juliana Rexha and Anila Trimi  

  This study is based upon the review of 45 cases of potential victims of child trafficking - 31 girls and 14 boys. The data was collected by Child Protection Workers (CPWs) during the period 2016- 2019. The selected period coincides with the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Presence in Albania work to support Albanian institutions to address child trafficking through a child protection framework. Of the 45 cases examined, 39 had been identified by authorities as potential victims of child trafficking. These cases suggest that trafficking for sexual exploitation, particularly through work in Albania’s nightclubs and entertainment industry, is a principal trafficking risk for girls, and trafficking for forced begging and criminal activity is a principal trafficking risk for boys. While third parties are often involved in this trafficking, there are some instances identified where trafficking is being facilitated or tolerated by the child’s parents. The majority of the cases examined in this study – 41 out of 45 – had no international aspect to them. Rather they represented risks of child trafficking or exploitation wholly within the borders of Albania. This indicates the need for law reform in Albania to recognise trafficking as a domestic as well as an international phenomenon. The study also finds significant evidence of coordination of state actors responsible for child protection in initial response to the identified cases: a multi-stakeholder approach on case management was undertaken in 41 out of 45 cases. However, the study also found significant problems regarding the case management. For example, of the 39 cases identified as potential cases of child trafficking only one was formally and conclusively identified as child trafficking. Furthermore, in 11 cases the exploitation continued even after the identification of the child as a potential victim of trafficking. Of these 11 cases, eight were cases of girls being sexually exploited, hence left in the hands of their traffickers in spite of the identified risks. Such egregious failures may be a result of systemic gender bias, a matter that requires further research and, if necessary, urgent solution. In other words this study found a lack of explicit decision making regarding trafficking identification, lack of follow up of criminal investigations, and worrying lapses in provision of sufficiently robust child protection measures. Furthermore, this study found a poor standard of record keeping and reporting. Hence, these findings indicate that there is still a considerable need for the strengthening of child protection systems in Albania, particularly in co-ordination and follow-up on child trafficking cases.

 

Vienna, Austria: OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Presence in Albania, 2020. 40p.

Trafficking in Human Beings and Terrorism: Where and How They Intersect

By The 

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),  Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings

 

This paper explores the intersections between human trafficking and terrorism by analysing activities of terrorist groups through the lens of trafficking in human beings. Through a critical analysis of legal and policy regimes, the paper provides a comparative study of two crimes – human trafficking and terrorism – based on a series of illustrative examples collected from throughout the OSCE region. The outcome is a set of targeted recommendations to challenge the trafficking practices of terrorist groups by leveraging existing preventative and protective mechanisms in the anti-trafficking field. The intent of these recommendations is to support participating States in preventing the crime of trafficking by terrorist groups, hold the perpetrators fully accountable and protect victims.

Vienna, Austria:  OSCE, 2021. 72p.

Putting Victims First: The 'Social Path' to Identification and Assistance

By The 

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),  Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings

Identifying an adult or child as a victim of trafficking is the first stage of protecting them. In many countries, being identified as a trafficking victim is the gateway to services and support specific to trafficking victims, rather than services and support specific to, for example, refugees or children. The primary purpose of identification is not to gather evidence from potential witnesses or victims of crime, nor to collect data about the number of people who have been trafficked. It is to trigger a State’s obligation to provide protection, including all forms of assistance.
This assistance should not be conditional on victims’ co-operation with the criminal justice system. It should instead offer them a path toward recovery, rehabilitation and restoration of their rights. Indeed, such assistance increases the likelihood of victims regaining their agency and participating in all aspects of society, including criminal proceedings, with the goal of bringing their traffickers to justice.

Currently, in the majority of OSCE participating States, individuals can only be formally identified as victims of trafficking in human beings within the criminal justice system, usually by law enforcement. A recent OSCE report1 indicates that in approximately half of the OSCE participating States (29), only officials associated with law enforcement can designate a person as a trafficking victim. Moreover, in eight participating States only law enforcement can refer them to support services.

Vienna, Austria: OSCE, 2023. 40p,.

Policy responses to technology - facilitated trafficking in human beings

By The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),  Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings

The report provides an analysis of how technology-facilitated trafficking in human beings has been approached from the perspective of policy and legislation across the OSCE participating States. While looking primarily at the accelerating shift toward government-led responses, the report also examines the policies and practices adopted by the private sector and civil society organizations. In addition, the report offers recommendations for policy and legislative responses by OSCE participating States to the misuse of technology to exploit victims.

Vienna, Austria: OSCE, 2022. 69p.

Life and Crimes of Bridget Durgan

By Rev. Mr. Brendan

The book is a short pamphlet of only 36 pages, and it tells the story of Bridget Durgan, a notorious criminal and murderess who was executed in Philadelphia in 1867. The book is written in a sensational and melodramatic style, and it describes the crimes committed by Bridget Durgan in detail, including the murder of her husband and attempted murder of her own children.

Philadelphia. C. W. Alexander. 1867. 36p.

Makarenko, his Life and Work. Articles, Talks, and Reminiscences

Translated from Russian by Bernard Isaacs.

he book was first published in English in 1966, and Isaacs' translation has been praised for its clarity and accuracy in capturing the essence of Makarenko's ideas and philosophy.

Isaacs was a respected translator of Russian literature and philosophy, and he worked closely with Sukhomlinsky to ensure that the English version of the book remained faithful to the original Russian text. His translation has been widely read and studied by scholars and educators around the world, and has played an important role in introducing Makarenko's ideas and methods to a wider audience.

Foreign Languages Publishing House. ND. 282p.

Jesse James: the Making of a Legend

By Larry C. Bradley

"Jesse James: The Making of a Legend" is a non-fiction book written by Eric L. James, a descendant of the Jesse James family. The book was published in 2004 and offers a revisionist account of the life and legacy of Jesse James, an American outlaw and folk hero who operated in the mid to late 19th century.

The book challenges many of the popular myths and legends surrounding Jesse James, presenting a more nuanced and historically accurate portrayal of his life and activities. Eric James argues that Jesse James was not simply a violent criminal, but rather a product of his time and circumstances, who was shaped by the social and economic upheavals of the post-Civil War era.

The book explores Jesse James' early life and family background, his involvement in the Confederate cause during the Civil War, and his subsequent career as an outlaw and guerrilla fighter. It also examines the cultural and political forces that contributed to the mythologizing of Jesse James, including the role of the media, popular culture, and regional identity.

Nevada, Missouri. Larren Publishers. 1980.

Wilhelm Reich: A Personal Biography

By Ilse Ollendorff Reich

"Wilhelm Reich: A Personal Biography" was actually written by Ilse Ollendorff Reich, the wife of Wilhelm Reich. The book was published posthumously in 1969, a year after Wilhelm Reich's death.

The biography provides a personal and intimate perspective on Reich's life, as it was written by someone who knew him intimately. Ilse Ollendorff Reich was herself a psychoanalyst and a close collaborator of her husband, and her biography provides insights into Reich's theories and ideas as well as his personal life.

The book covers Reich's childhood, his education and training in medicine and psychology, his work with Sigmund Freud and his eventual break with the psychoanalytic community, his research on orgone energy and his later years in the United States, where he faced opposition from government authorities and eventually died in prison.

Ilse Ollendorff Reich's biography is notable for its compassionate and empathetic portrayal of her husband, as well as its frank and honest evaluation of his ideas and theories. She also provides valuable insights into the social and political context in which Reich developed his theories, and the challenges that he faced in trying to pursue his research.

NY. Avon Books. 1989. 219p.

Stuart. A Life Backwards

By Alexander Masters

"Stuart: A Life Backwards" is a biographical book written by Alexander Masters and published in 2005. The book tells the true story of Stuart Clive Shorter, a homeless and mentally ill man living on the streets of Cambridge, England.

The book is unique in its structure, as it is written in reverse chronological order, beginning with the end of Stuart's life and moving backwards through time. Through this unconventional approach, the reader gains insight into Stuart's troubled past and the events that led to his current situation.

Masters became friends with Stuart while working for a homeless charity in Cambridge, and the book is based on his extensive interviews and interactions with Stuart over the course of several years. The book also includes excerpts from Stuart's own writing and letters, providing a personal and intimate perspective on his life and struggles.

London. Fourth Estate. 2005. 332p.

The Way Of A Transgressor

By Negley Farson

"The Way of a Transgressor" is a novel by British author Negley Farson, first published in 1936. The novel follows the life of a man named Nicholas Tarleton, who grows up in a small English village and eventually becomes a successful journalist and adventurer.

The novel is loosely based on Farson's own life, and is notable for its vivid descriptions of travel and adventure in various parts of the world. Tarleton travels to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, encountering a wide variety of cultures and people along the way. He also experiences many personal struggles, including a love affair with a woman who is already married, and a crisis of conscience over his involvement in the exploitation of African workers.

The novel is considered a classic of adventure literature, and has been praised for its vivid descriptions of exotic locales and the many characters that Tarleton encounters on his travels. However, it has also been criticized for its portrayal of non-white characters as stereotypes, and for its sometimes problematic depictions of colonialism and imperialism.

NY. Harcourt, Brace And Company. 1936. 601p.

The Road from Coorain

By Jill Ker Conway

"The Road from Coorain" is a memoir written by Jill Ker Conway, first published in 1989. The book tells the story of Conway's upbringing on a remote sheep farm in the Australian outback, and her journey to become an acclaimed historian, feminist, and academic leader.

Conway's childhood on the Coorain farm was both idyllic and challenging. She learned to love the vast, untamed landscape of the Australian bush, and to appreciate the hard work and self-reliance that were necessary for survival in such a harsh environment. At the same time, however, she struggled to find her place in a world that was often hostile to women and to intellectual curiosity.

Despite these challenges, Conway was determined to pursue her dreams of education and self-improvement. She attended the University of Sydney, where she discovered a passion for history, and went on to earn a scholarship to study at Harvard University in the United States. Over the course of her career, she became a respected scholar of Australian history, a dedicated advocate for women's rights, and a pioneering academic leader.

NY. Vintage. 1990. 238p.