On December 29, 2021, we were thrilled to receive an affirming decision from the BC Provincial Court in the case of R v Ellis. Alongside Sarah Runyon of Marion & Runyon, we successfully argued a departure from BC’s steep sentencing range of 18-36 months for street-based drug trafficking offences involving fentanyl. Rather than serve up to 3 years in jail, our client Tanya Ellis was instead able to access the health supports she wanted and to focus on raising her children. Despite our government’s routine claims to support evidence-based, health-focused drug policy, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada quickly appealed the decision. That means we will be at the BC Court of Appeal defending the provincial court decision on May 26, 2022.

Daniella Barreto and Meenakshi Mannoe encourage Vancouver City Council to firmly oppose any calls for the expansion of CCTV in our communities.

Next week, City Council will receive the Report on the Vancouver Police Board Budget Increase. We’re asking our allies to sign up to speak or write in support of Council Member Jean Swanson’s Motion “Rejecting the Increase to the 2021 Police Budget.”

Today marks the 1st anniversary of the VPD killing of Chester. This year, Pivot is supporting members of the Defund 604 Network and VANDU, who are coming together to mark the first anniversary of his murder.

Call for donations due to the recent raids and arrests of Indigenous land defenders at the unarmed Gidimt’en checkpoint to address the legal costs of the individuals going to court.

BC and Vancouver have each applied to decriminalize simple drug possession. Neither model is perfect, but how do they compare?

BC Provincial Court’s recent decision of R v Ellis marks a departure from harsh sentencing ranges for street-based fentanyl dealers. We know that a different approach is needed—the Court listened.

Meenakshi Mannoe & Kit Rothschild want City of Vancouver to reinvest 50% of the police budget into community-led crisis response and peer-led systems of care.

Researcher and policy analyst Chuka Ejeckam distinguishes public safety from police spending, as these concepts are often conflated.

Nicole Luongo outlines the pitfalls of the “Complex Care housing” model that is widely-touted by provincial and municipal governments in BC