As the Rehtaeh Parsons tragedy becomes known, Halifax suddenly finds itself on the world stage, being called “Canada’s Steubenville.”
Is that a fair characterization? In terms of the general outline of events, as we know them now, probably. Allegedly the victim of a rape by four high school students, and then secondly victimized by the spread of a photo of the incident via social media, Rehtaeh fell into deep despair, attempted to kill herself last week and succumbed to her self-inlflicted injuries Sunday. According to Rehtaeh’s mother, Leah Parsons, police were slow to investigate the issue, and didn’t see the distribution of the photo as a criminal act. Likewise, there seems to have been a dis-interest from school officials into investigating the situation. Reportedly, at least one of the alleged rapists is an athlete. So, yes, with our current understanding of events, there is a close parallel to the high-profile rape case in Steubenville, Ohio, albeit in that case the victim survived and, while justice was delayed, at least some of those responsible were last month convicted and sentenced to jail.
A matter of priorities
We’re not privy to the police file on Rehtaeh’s case, so we don’t know why the RCMP chose not to pursue the matter with any urgency. Leah Parsons says police waited 10 months before interviewing the boys she suspects raped Rehtaeh. Nor can we tell you why prosecutors chose not to lay charges.
But we’re talking about the same police agency that just concluded an 11-month investigation, involving 120 police officers and likely costing millions of dollars, in order to bust 28 people for (allegedly) growing, and smoking, marijuana.
This is also the same police agency that is accused of using an undercover officer in order to make arrests of three people involved in providing medical marijuana to sick people.
Although the warrants are not yet public, in both cases it is apparent that judges signed off on search warrants justifying SWAT team raids leading to the arrests.
So we have to ask: Were similar resources employed to investigate the Rehtaeh Parsons matter? Were 120 police officers assigned to the case? Eighty? Ten? Were millions of dollars sunk into investigating Rehtaeh’s four alleged rapists? Were undercover officers used to advance the investigation? Did anyone bother to work up a search warrant application to find the source of pictures floating around social media for months?
If not, why does the crime of growing a plant warrant a bigger police response than the crime of rape?
Make no mistake: Where and how to allocate limited police resources is a political decision. It starts with political decisions made by police commanders, but extends to the prosecutorial offices as well. Ultimately, the responsibility for these decisions are rightly laid right at the feet of Ross Landry, the provincial minister for justice, and his government.
Landry has made clear that he will continue the war on plants at full tilt, depriving police agencies of resources that could otherwise be used to investigate and prosecute other crimes like, for instance, rape.
It is evidently politically expedient in Nova Scotia to pursue a war on plants. Maybe it polls well in rural ridings that can ensure a second majority government for the NDP. Maybe it reassures voters who suspect that the NDP is at heart a bunch of pot-smoking hippies. But for whatever reason, Landry and his government refuse to end the pricey investigation and prosecution of people growing plants; instead, Landry and the NDP seem to have ratcheted up the effort to new heights.
By comparison, Landry’s interest in potential rape investigations is lacklustre, albeit when the political pressure caught up with that lacklustre interest, he managed to budge a bit. Yesterday morning Landry said he couldn’t second-guess the police investigation into Rehtaeh’s case; last night, after the story went international, Landry announced his office would indeed look into the matter.
The danger moving forward
Talking about suicide is difficult. The subject raises difficult emotions, and in our zeal to memorialize and celebrate the dead, we may inadvertently be creating a social climate that leads to still more trouble: mental health professionals tell us that if we’re not careful, talk of suicide can lead to copycat suicides, what they call “contagion.”
We in media have long been aware of these problems, and most newsrooms and reporters are well aware of guidelines for reporting on suicide drawn up by mental health professionals. Here is an example of such guidelines. The general idea is to not overplay the suicide, and so far as we do report on particular suicides, to try to put the death in context of the full story.
In the case of Rehtaeh’s death, Chronicle-Herald reporter Selena Ross’ initial article got everything right. It was respectful, didn’t overplay the suicide and put it in context of the broader story. It is a sensitive, well-crafted article, and one young reporters would do well to study.
But as important as responsible media coverage is, the guidelines for reporting on suicide may have been entirely eclipsed by the pervasiveness of social media. Does it really matter if all news outlets get it right, if Facebook and Twitter posts undo all the responsible reporting?
In this age of instantaneous social media, we are all reporters. We all have added responsibilities to consider our words, and the impact those words have on others, and especially on other young troubled minds.
That doesn’t mean we don’t discuss suicide. It means we discuss this situation more fully, in context of a society that failed to respond responsibly to a distressed young person.
This article appears in Apr 11-17, 2013.
#opjustice4rehtaeh
Another clear case of leos not doing their job. How many people are responsible for this poor girl’s death? Not just the rapists and those passing around the child porn, but all the bullies, the parents, the school and even the leos who helped push Rehtaeh to the breaking point. People better see the inside of jails for this.
Any human, with any shred of humanity left, should be outraged when this kind of thing happens… I have a son, but would I want my son going to a school where school administration condones this kind of behavior by doing nothing? Living in a province where a premier who represents the area this crime happened directs his “justice” minister to do nothing? Where our police have so miserably failed this young woman and have thereby devalued her existence? The most shameful part of all of this is that it took the ultimate price paid by her, to even get this issue to the top of the news crawl.
I do agree with one of your last comments, in that we are responsible for what we choose to share on social media. However, that does not make us all reporters. In my opinion, despite or maybe even because of this age of information overload, responsible reporting has only become more important, not less.
We aren’t Canada’s Steubenville though – we haven’t treated the female as a victim and the perpetrators as criminals, and in fact have done the opposite. We can only wish that we were Steubenville. Rehteah would still be alive if we were Canada’s Steubenville.
This is the same organization where 200+ of its own members are planning a class action lawsuit against them for bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, AND sexual assault.
Excellent.
Although you normally publish good articles, I think that all the commentary on dope is pushing your personal agenda. People who care about what happened to Rehtaeh will not necessarily care about legalization of marijuana.
Regardless, now that the Justice Minister flip-flopped, I think the legal system will now attempt to address the crimes committed.
My concern is that there will be so much dodging and ducking of responsibility, that school officials, the school boards, and the Dept of Education will not focus their resources to the present situation. Because there is still an overt hostility towards women (both young and old), these kinds of horrors will continue.
I would be interested in knowing what the school and school board are going to tell the students. I hope they take this opportunity to start a healing process so that gang rape and bullying people to death are seen as crimes against a community. The youth at the school that knew about the rape and received the picture need to understand that it is not ok to not do anything about it.
The 4 scum bag bullies rapped her, shared the rape photos to their friend’s, humiliated and bullied her forcing her to leave town untill finially she took her own life!!! The police said it’s “he said she said” and failed to help her yet “proof” of the photo was shared by all her classmates. Shame on the police as well for doing nothing about it!!! Villians win again… At least bringing this to light may prevent it from happening again. I’m discusted, what if this was your daughter….. think about that!!!
women have HAD ENUFFFF!!!!!!
Good article looking at a real issue, but I’m a little perturbed by using the tragedy to push a pot legalization agenda.
No doubt, police resources (and taxpayer dollars) that could have been better spent elsewhere went to busting people for allegedly growing, smoking and distributing pot. But to (not so subtly) imply that maybe if those investigations hadn’t occurred, and resources been directed elsewhere, Rehtaeh would be alive and her rapists in custody is very suspect.
…the school and school administration are complicit as well as they did not pursue this to the letter…she was being bullied at Cole Harbour HS and her parents had to move her to another school!
The Principal, Administration and School board, Min of Education do you have an answer??? As to why nothing happened? Why would she have to move??? This is not the first time that this has happened wrt Bullying and the Nil response at Cole Harbour High School!!!
I agree with your thoughts on the priorities of the police department, but don’t think it would have made much of a difference in this case. It seems that the case was a challenging one to begin with and there was little likelihood of a conviction for rape – perhaps some a better case for distribution of child porn.
The truly great failure appears to have been in supporting Rehtaeh after the alleged rape. How she was not given the love and support she needed is the question that must be answered.
While I agree that the Herald article was sensitive it also fails to mention anything about the role that drug and alcohol abuse played in this tragedy. By this, I do not mean in the rape, but in the life of Rehtaeh and her “supportive” friends. To mention this is not to heap blame on Rehtaeh or destroy her reputation, but helps to tell the real story and answer the question “Who failed Rehtaeh Parsons?”
The answer is not so simple as the police, the government/ or some officials or “the system.” There are real people out there who came in contact with this girl and failed to get her the support she needed.
The social media side of things is another whole animal in this story and a topic that parents and educators need to discuss with youth. Social media is beyond pervasive for most kids these days and has become an extension of themselves in what may be for many not so healthy.
Rehteah Parsons has left an open social media story of her struggles which is available for all to read via twitter. — https://twitter.com/rprsnsxo —
For anyone that may be inclined to censor this feed or feel it is inappropriate to post – I beg to differ. In fact, since her death someone has accessed the account and changed her profile picture – so someone close has had the opportunity to shutdown or censor the account.
I wonder what Vic Toews (“you’re with us or you’re with the child pornographers”) thinks about this. The RCMP are ready willing and able to jump into action when anonymous gets involved in doing their job, for them. Where were they, and where was this action – in the 10 months it took to do an initial interview with the boys invloved in rape and child pornography? Our “intergrated” RCMP/Halifax police are failing us
Funny how the guns that were seized during the grow-op raids were not mentioned in this article. Rehteah’s death was a tragedy beyond comprehension and possibly avoidable but to draw an argument on the war on drugs from this is utterly ludicrous!
I believe it’s everywhere still even with all the anti-bullying campaigns etc. I had 2 kids bullied , one a knife was pulled on because he was talking to a girl and her b/f got jealous, and a threat that it would be in him( the blade) if he didn’t back off… Nothing was done even after meeting the principal. I was told both were called in the office and told “he ” didn’t want to see them in here again. Not even a police report. The second one was same school… my kid was picked up , put in garbage cans , tripped on floor and kicked by others while teachers watched, then saying : c’mon boys , get to class. Nothing was done.Always taught my kids to walk away , and don’t fight , after these incidents , I told them to hit the bastards as hard as they could and make sure they didn’t get up .Stick up for themselves because the staff of the school wouldn’t look out for them!!! I think the anti – bullying campaigns etc, do not work.
Things will never change until the day comes that this child is as important as the child of those who are givin the authority to hold people accountable, this is how things will always be. I pray that those of you who have been givin the authority to act, speak, and do, on behalf of the rest of the citizens in this world, as we are expected to give you the utmost respect for your positions, that you have compassion and respect for those of us who awarded you your positions to act on our behave and to do more then sit at the desk and sign on the doted line. Step up and have some courage for humanity and see that what has taken place will never happen again, stop passing the buck and make people accountable, be it schools, school boards, police, officials, what ever, find some courage for yourselves and the people of this country. If things don’t change soon, this is just the beginning of a long and dangerous road.
Thanks so very much Tim for putting this tragedy “in context” with a slipshod and utterly contrived reference to the co-called “war on drugs” Want to scribble pro-legalization editorials – blaze one up and have at it. Trying to link this families grief with your personal agenda is as clumsy and fatuous as the aforementioned Vic Toews child molester analogy.
And just as contemptible. True justice can never be done in this case. The perpetrators may, just may, wind up having to pay their debt to the legal system. They can never repay what they have stolen from society.
And Gwana, for the record – PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH. Enough of shaking their heads and saying “That’s so sad”. Enough of changing the channel to see what new tragedy is unfolding. Enough of wondering if they are going to be a statistic every time they step out the door. Enough of feeling that everything around them is crumbling and the only solutions are “vigils”, “grief counselors” and (God but I despise this word) “closure” Enough of saying “What’s the matter with kids today”.
Well guess what. Teenagers today are just as sociopathic and ego-driven as when I was one, and the vast majority of them grow up and move beyond. But we seem to have put weapons in their hands that can inflict incredible damage, far beyond what a developing adolescent ego can handle. The smart phone is to us what the Kalashnikov is to the developing world and everybody’s a child soldier, it seems.
I’ve got no damned answers and my conclusions are probably as idiotic as Tim’s. But I’m angry, and sad and very tired of feeling angry and sad. And that’s nothing compared to what the Parsons family are feeling right now.
Thanks Coast , for letting me rant.
Perhaps you bandwagon jumpers need to find the truth before you lynch these boys. Perhaps the police did their jobs investigating an incident where five 14-yr olds behaved inappropriately (Rehtaeh included) while under the influence of alcohol that they had no business having
There are several matters at hand as to how Rehteah’s case was handled, serious matters which our information is limited. What we do know is not acceptable as to how Rehteah rape and violence was handled by law enforcement, the justice system, the school system, health care and social media, and school mates and some friends. What the public can do is Stop the Bullying, right now by making changes in school policy and provide mandatory classes in Bullying, just like everyday I attended Religion classes going to school, every single solitary day, from 0830-0900. The same could be done for Bullying. Classes in Bullying should be mandatory. Also, there are organizations that deal with Bullying and violence. There too must be consequences, real consequences from breaking school, internet, law enforcement’s policies!! The “jig’s up”! There is no reason why these classes cannot be conducted by Youth, Peer Mediators, Peer Moderators, with of course supervision and Lesson plans. One organization which is making great changes in educating Youth and our culture against violence is L.O.V.E. https://www.facebook.com/leaveoutviolence?fref=ts
Booze+kids in mid teens= a problem for police. We ‘know’ part of the incident. Don’t rush to judgement, the police cannot tell the public the full details of the investigation.
To parents – your kids don’t need the iPhones and similar devices, the world managed very well before the instant foolishness of facebook, text messaging and the minutiae of daily life.
Glad to see you are still accepting comments on this matter
Chronicle Herald cut off comments shortly after their articles appeared.They were running heavily against the gov’t (more specifically Landry) so is the C-H acting as censor or at request of Gov’t.
I too am outraged. As a parent, why would anyone want to send their children to a school that does not support the safety and well-being of their children. Why would a school partake in anti-bullying day and have their students wear pink for such an occasion when they don’t even stand behind the very words it stands for by putting it into action when bullying is happening right infront of their eyes. Why was it so easy for the school to pass on their responsibility to take action on the abuse that one of their own had been tortured with for so long. Its inexcusable to pass the buck claiming you are not going to interfere with an ongoing police investigation. It is your responsibility to your student body to take action, morally and ethically – regardless as to any other separate investigation. It is YOUR school and it is your obligation to withold a ZERO TOLERANCE for such horrific activity and consequences for such behavior. Children are suspended for such behavior as pushing, punching, throwing snowballs etc. An example should have been made and those responsible for the torture should have been expelled without question. For starters, those 4 boys in question should have been forced to leave the school instead of the victim in this case. And any other examles of bullying from other students should have been followed with the same consequences.
Catherine – Middle Sackvile
Using such a powerful platform to spend nearly half of an article called ‘The Rehtaeh Parsons story in context’ discussing marijuana prohibition is about as disrespectful as it gets. Continuing with the discussion of responsible journalism makes it laughable.
What a waste.
I was once asked in an interview if there was something I hoped to convey through my writing. An excerpt of my answer:
“I want to convey the depth of my conviction that our greatest failure has been and continues to be our repeated dismissal as a society of every child’s right to grow up in dignity in an equitable world – a world safe from war and fear. Conversely, our greatest accomplishments are those times we’ve chosen to uphold and protect those fundamental rights, in creating communities where children can play, and laugh, and learn and grow into their full potential.”
Some days, on the journey to upholding and protecting children’s rights, the complacency of many is incomprehensible. However, there ARE others: Compassionate, creative and determined people who want to help change this for our children.
Find these people. Keep the one’s you’ve already found close to you. Let them hold you up when you feel you are about to fall. The best ones may even lift you up.
My sincere hope is that all this (justified) outrage & extreme sadness will lead to positive changes at all levels of government & society for the next girl who finds herself in a situation like Rehtaeh.
-Dina Desveaux
I’m am in agreeance. The RCMP/HRM Police don’t have their priorities in the right place. I’ve been thinking this ever since Melissa Peacock went missing and the cops did NOTHING to help until much later down the road. As for Rehtaeh, whether those boys were guilty or not, why did it take the RCMP TEN months to speak to them. That is ridiculous and a slap in the face to Rehtaeh. Those boys should have been brought in IMMEDIATELY for questioning and ONLY THEN should have the RCMP made the call on whether or not to pursue the case. They shouldn’t have waited almost a year to speak to the other 4 people involved.
WE KNOW THE POLICE ARE BUSY PUTTING CANNABIS USERS IN PRISON, TIME FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS NOW AND CANNABIS IS THE BEST MEDICINE FOR PTSD AND RECOVERY FROM TRAUMA SO STOP PUTTING US IN PRISON!!!
Police departments have different sections responsible for different things, ie, patrol, community services, traffic, drugs, major crimes, etc. Using grow op busts as a reason is a red herring and Tim should know better. As to the race of the perpetrators (as if that is even important) we don’t know as it has not been released.
Kids do have parties where alcohol is used and abused and have sex. Some have orgies, some are consented to and some not. Kids take sexual pictures of themselves and others and send them over the net, even though it is illegal. Worst of all they think and believe it is a game. This is the first thing parents, schools, etc need to get a grip on this type of behavior. They, the kids and parents, need to be informed it is not a game and that it is not harmless. Unfortunately these types of “parties” are more common than not.
Schools have to become aware of what is happening in their school and wit their students. Students have to watch out for their friends backs. People have to be aware and not put themselves in dangerous positions.
What sort of job did the police do? I don’t know as I haven’t seen any reports but a review should be done to ensure if everything that could be done was done. Sexual assault is one of the hardest crimes to prove. Often the victim (whether male or female) washes themselves, destroying valuable evidence and often do not report the incident until much later. There may be pictures but they don’t tell the whole story and all the defence has to do is say it was consented to (remember the kids in this case were of the age of consent for sex, please consult the Criminal Code for age ranges on consent) and the victim decided to change their minds for whatever reason and it becomes a he says/she says thing. Remember the prosecution has to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, the defence doesn’t have to do anything but raise a reasonable doubt. Victims usually have to testify, the defendant does not. The Crown has only one kick at the can.
In this particular case, have they finished the investigation or are they waiting for more information? And more importantly, if there are witnesses, why haven’t they come forward?