New law in Canada, inmates can't publish ANY books. What do you think?

Question

On June 27, 2002, BILL 69 was passed in Ontario, called "Prohibiting Profiting from Recounting Crimes Act, 2002". It basicly says no inmate can publish a book. Nor can his family, spouse, friend etc. Any publisher who does so, is supposed to give the proceeds from sales to the Ontario government. This silences inmates, not just while they're inside, but also when they get out! It is an infringement on freedom of speech. It is also an infringement on freedom of the PRESS. It also tells me and thee what we're ALLOWED to read. Think of the books that wouldn't get published! Let's start with (Nobel Prizewinner for Literature!) Alexander Solzhenitsyn's "Gulag Archipeligo"!
People who've been FALSELY convicted can no longer tell their story. David Milgaard's book, Guy Paul Morin, Steven Truscott, Donald Marshall, Hurricane Carter, all released largely because the court of public opinion demanded another look at their case! www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2943

I didn't really take time to study it, but I got reaction from this site: http://www.ontla.on.ca/library/bills/69373.htm
Readers may read it and interpret it for themselves. I will too, when I have time.

But i DID refer readers to the site at which I saw that response.

Sorry. I should have explained things more clearly. This was someone else's response that I basically copied and pasted onto this site. As I said, I refered readers to the site from which I COPIED this response. Although, there is less obligation to quote sources, I should have done it more explicitly. Also I should have stuied the law first. Sometimes my questions here are on a whim. Again, I apologize.

Answer 1

Go Canada!

Answer 2

I'm not certain, but just from the title of the act, it might be that the inmate can publish a book or contribute his thoughts to a book but profit from it (recieve any royalties). However, this would probably (and in the U.S. constitutionally must be limited to) books written about the crime committed by the defendant. IE Charles Manson can't make money writing about how he got his 'family' to commit the Tate murders. However, he could still write a book about, say, gardening, and probably even about the political motives for his killings.

On the other hand, Canada is at the for of the 'hate' censorship movement, so who knows.

Answer 3

I would say no publishing while in jail. After jail, no book can be written and published for profit that touches on their crime.
If they believe they have been unjustly treated and cannot get redress, then they can do like Solzhenitsyn, and get out of the country to publish.
Yes, people have been falsely convicted. They should have access to investigators, lawyers, friends, etc. But as long as they are considered guilty, the punishment goes on.

Answer 4

The law does not say what you say it does: it does not prohibit anyone from writing or publishing anything, least of all does it interfere with free speech.

Whether it violates the Canadian Charter of Freedoms remains to be seen.

It does require that profits from the sale of jailhouse autobiographies goes into escrow.

This law is one of many manifestations of public hostility to felons profiting from their crimes. Whether it is a good idea rather than just a sop to public prejudice and vindictiveness remains to be seen; but anyone concerned with the rights of victims must have some sympathy for the movement that would hold convicts liable to restitution from future assets. I don't think many people consider it fair that OJ Simpson -- who was never convicted -- has managed to game the system and keep his Florida homestead and his pension and never pay a penny of the civil judgment against him.

Answer 5

I guess that means parts of the Bible would never have been published. I think they should be able to write the book if they have the permission of all parties involved and its not for profit. However, while in prison, I think they should be given greater freedom to write newspapers and for the public to see what its like to live in prison. Not the stereotype.

Answer 6

I,m from the Kawarthas in basic terms N.E of Toronto..Used tochronic delivery and function spent slightly time in Texas.no person in Texas knows I,m from Canada until I tell Them.same coloration and same style of dressing and same way of speaking.I %. up Your accessory with out any difficulty so which you will possibly have a no longer hassle-free time questioning I,m no longer a American from Texas or the Carolinas .Whats Canada all approximately?Weave a different way of doing issues .even nonetheless many people do very own weapons and Rifles you will by no skill see every person wearing one until it,s looking Season after which you will basically see them mutually as we are relatively huntingWe frown on Racial Discrimination and every person who does Discriminate is advised to alter Their attitude fantastically speedy.Does,nt mean it nevcer happenws in spite of the undeniable fact that it,s no longer something we % promoted.we've so plenty extra persons of different cultures than you have and we attempt to get alongside .Our Beer is larger .Even you assert that.because of the fact We specific do sell a great sort of Canadian Beer in Texas..in lots of methods we are particularly different yet in lots of methods we are alike.you need to circulate to and see what we are all approximately yet You extra desirable have approximately 6 months because of the fact we are a huge u . s . .around right here Texas isn't all that great a place .we could cover Texas in Ontario some circumstances over .As you % to assert Cmon down Yall and function a lookaround.

Answer 7

It isn't a law that directly prohibits the creation of such materials, rather prohibits a person convicted of a crime from profiting from the act via, publication or selling their story.

Answer 8

Hmmm....their family and friends? How can they define friends? The inmate could say everyone was his friend. The part about the inmate himself not being able to publish sounds fine, but his friends and family? Crazy.

Answer 9

That's why I live in the USA. We still have some rights. We still have private ownership of handguns something you don't. Is it any wonder why the illegal Mexicans come here instead of Canada ?

Answer 10

As far as I'm concerned, prisioners should have all
their rights revoked as long as they remain in jail. They;
can write their book while in jail, and then if and when
they get out, they can go get it published. If they still
can't in Canada, they can come to the US and do so.