Sarah Ferencz
@sarahferencz.bsky.social
Lawyer, PhD student at UBC, Political Science.
Canadian Politics, Drug Policy, Policing, Public Administration
Canadian Politics, Drug Policy, Policing, Public Administration
Pinned
Drug decriminalization and policy alienation among frontline police in British Columbia: A qualitative study
Research Summary This qualitative study examines how frontline police officers in British Columbia experienced and adapted to Canada's first formal drug decriminalization policy 1 year after impleme...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
New publication in Criminology and Public Policy examining police experiences with Canada's first #drugdecriminalization policy. We highlight #policyalienation, #legalambiguity, and disparate coping mechanisms that reveal the #lawinaction. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#canpoli #canlaw
#canpoli #canlaw
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Supreme Court Canada dismissed 4 leaves to appeal and granted 1. #SCC will hear #Saskatchewan use of Charter Rights s33 notwithstanding clause in #education law. #constitution
November 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Supreme Court Canada dismissed 4 leaves to appeal and granted 1. #SCC will hear #Saskatchewan use of Charter Rights s33 notwithstanding clause in #education law. #constitution
New publication in Criminology and Public Policy examining police experiences with Canada's first #drugdecriminalization policy. We highlight #policyalienation, #legalambiguity, and disparate coping mechanisms that reveal the #lawinaction. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#canpoli #canlaw
#canpoli #canlaw
Drug decriminalization and policy alienation among frontline police in British Columbia: A qualitative study
Research Summary This qualitative study examines how frontline police officers in British Columbia experienced and adapted to Canada's first formal drug decriminalization policy 1 year after impleme...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
New publication in Criminology and Public Policy examining police experiences with Canada's first #drugdecriminalization policy. We highlight #policyalienation, #legalambiguity, and disparate coping mechanisms that reveal the #lawinaction. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#canpoli #canlaw
#canpoli #canlaw
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
While the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act ensures immunity from charges for simple drug possession during an overdose, the Supreme Court of Canada says that protection must also extend to arrests. www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articl...
Supreme Court of Canada clarifies Good Samaritan law
In drug overdoses, it provides immunity from charges for simple possession and extends to subsequent searches and arrests
www.nationalmagazine.ca
October 30, 2025 at 3:49 PM
While the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act ensures immunity from charges for simple drug possession during an overdose, the Supreme Court of Canada says that protection must also extend to arrests. www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articl...
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Happy to share new paper on "State Actors as Hard-to-Reach Populations"
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
July 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Happy to share new paper on "State Actors as Hard-to-Reach Populations"
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Charter Rights #sexwork and #criminallaw: Unanimous Supreme Court Canada held that, 'challenged [criminal] offences do not violate right to security of the person protected by section 7 of Charter.' #scc
July 25, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Charter Rights #sexwork and #criminallaw: Unanimous Supreme Court Canada held that, 'challenged [criminal] offences do not violate right to security of the person protected by section 7 of Charter.' #scc
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Supreme Court Canada agreed to hear case about whether it's constitutional for police to make random traffic stop without reasonable suspicion the driver has committed an offence. #SCC @cdnpress.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Appeal of ban on random police stops in Quebec headed to Supreme Court | CBC News
The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a case about whether it's constitutional for police to make a random traffic stop without reasonable suspicion the driver has committed an offence.
www.cbc.ca
May 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Supreme Court Canada agreed to hear case about whether it's constitutional for police to make random traffic stop without reasonable suspicion the driver has committed an offence. #SCC @cdnpress.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
One thing you notice about anti-feminism is that its public discourses are all about erecting a fantasy of men’s victimization that is clung to all the more desperately and insistently the more it contradicts the actual facts. So the more women are hurt, the more we’re told that men are suffering.
every day there are new horrors for gender-marginalized people and women--trump going after the equal credit opportunity act, loss of body autonomy, exterminationist anti-trans attacks ramping up--and every single day we have to talk about "male loneliness" and "it's a brutal time to be a young man"
May 4, 2025 at 4:26 AM
One thing you notice about anti-feminism is that its public discourses are all about erecting a fantasy of men’s victimization that is clung to all the more desperately and insistently the more it contradicts the actual facts. So the more women are hurt, the more we’re told that men are suffering.
In brighter news, yesterday I recieved news that I was awarded a SSHRC doctoral grant. Grateful to live and study in a country that thinks social science is important and deserving of funding!
My research is all about street-level bureaucracy and implementing policy change. Stay tuned! 🤓
My research is all about street-level bureaucracy and implementing policy change. Stay tuned! 🤓
May 1, 2025 at 7:41 PM
In brighter news, yesterday I recieved news that I was awarded a SSHRC doctoral grant. Grateful to live and study in a country that thinks social science is important and deserving of funding!
My research is all about street-level bureaucracy and implementing policy change. Stay tuned! 🤓
My research is all about street-level bureaucracy and implementing policy change. Stay tuned! 🤓
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
To the paramedics, police, firefighters, those working at the hospitals, and members of the public that jumped in to help on the scene.
I want to say thank you.
Thank you for stepping up to take care of each other last night, and all that you will do in the coming days.
(1/2)
I want to say thank you.
Thank you for stepping up to take care of each other last night, and all that you will do in the coming days.
(1/2)
April 27, 2025 at 10:47 PM
To the paramedics, police, firefighters, those working at the hospitals, and members of the public that jumped in to help on the scene.
I want to say thank you.
Thank you for stepping up to take care of each other last night, and all that you will do in the coming days.
(1/2)
I want to say thank you.
Thank you for stepping up to take care of each other last night, and all that you will do in the coming days.
(1/2)
Appreciating the careful response from VPD's interim Chief Steve Rai to media questions: "We don't want to create a police state."
Our city is grieving. That grief can tempt us to demand a more coercive state. It's powerful to see police leadership recognizing that danger, and resisting it.
Our city is grieving. That grief can tempt us to demand a more coercive state. It's powerful to see police leadership recognizing that danger, and resisting it.
LIVE: Vancouver officials provide update on car-ramming at Filipino festival
YouTube video by CBC News
www.youtube.com
April 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Appreciating the careful response from VPD's interim Chief Steve Rai to media questions: "We don't want to create a police state."
Our city is grieving. That grief can tempt us to demand a more coercive state. It's powerful to see police leadership recognizing that danger, and resisting it.
Our city is grieving. That grief can tempt us to demand a more coercive state. It's powerful to see police leadership recognizing that danger, and resisting it.
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Charter Rights #Toronto. Injunction granted to prevent bike lane removal. 'Ontario govt can’t remove bike lanes on Bloor, University and Yonge streets until [court] renders decision on Charter challenge by #cycling advocates.' #bikes toronto.citynews.ca/2025/04/22/c...
Court grants injunction to stop Ontario from removing 3 major Toronto bike lanes
The Ontario government’s bid to remove three major Toronto bike lanes has been put on pause after a temporary injunction has been granted by Justice Paul Schabas.
toronto.citynews.ca
April 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Charter Rights #Toronto. Injunction granted to prevent bike lane removal. 'Ontario govt can’t remove bike lanes on Bloor, University and Yonge streets until [court] renders decision on Charter challenge by #cycling advocates.' #bikes toronto.citynews.ca/2025/04/22/c...
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
What does #evidence-based #policy (EBP) mean, ask Schneider et al. Does it mean “follow the science,” focus on “what works,” or “follow the rules”? They discuss the literature & practice on EBP & note two criteria “legitimizers of EBP ought to satisfy” @polstudies.bsky.social doi.org/10.1177/0032...
April 17, 2025 at 1:12 PM
What does #evidence-based #policy (EBP) mean, ask Schneider et al. Does it mean “follow the science,” focus on “what works,” or “follow the rules”? They discuss the literature & practice on EBP & note two criteria “legitimizers of EBP ought to satisfy” @polstudies.bsky.social doi.org/10.1177/0032...
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
#Bill53 'Compassionate Intervention Act' lays out criteria, guidelines and process for a family member or guardian, health-care professional or police officer to get someone into involuntary treatment. #mentalhealth #cdnpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta introduces controversial involuntary addictions treatment bill | CBC News
Bill 53, the Compassionate Intervention Act, lays out the criteria, guidelines and process for a family member or guardian, health-care professional or police officer to get someone into treatment. Th...
www.cbc.ca
April 16, 2025 at 5:17 PM
#Bill53 'Compassionate Intervention Act' lays out criteria, guidelines and process for a family member or guardian, health-care professional or police officer to get someone into involuntary treatment. #mentalhealth #cdnpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Obviously there are workarounds to knowing what is happening with some of our biggest public bodies on an hour by hour.
But now that I’m 98% off it, it’s odd how our government bodies became so captured to a single website to provide basic information to British Columbians.
But now that I’m 98% off it, it’s odd how our government bodies became so captured to a single website to provide basic information to British Columbians.
April 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Obviously there are workarounds to knowing what is happening with some of our biggest public bodies on an hour by hour.
But now that I’m 98% off it, it’s odd how our government bodies became so captured to a single website to provide basic information to British Columbians.
But now that I’m 98% off it, it’s odd how our government bodies became so captured to a single website to provide basic information to British Columbians.
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Oh nothing, just the national federation of academic unions recommending against any non-essential travel to the United States, with a warning to exercise "particular caution" to anyone who has expressed the current administration or its policies
CAUT advises academics against non-essential travel to the U.S.
Given the rapidly evolving political landscape in the United States and reports of individuals encou
www.caut.ca
April 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Oh nothing, just the national federation of academic unions recommending against any non-essential travel to the United States, with a warning to exercise "particular caution" to anyone who has expressed the current administration or its policies
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Supreme Court Canada 2024 year in review features a message from chief justice Richard Wagner. Reduced quality. Video available here video.isilive.ca/scc/2025_YIR... #scc #cdnlaw #cdnpoli #justice
April 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Supreme Court Canada 2024 year in review features a message from chief justice Richard Wagner. Reduced quality. Video available here video.isilive.ca/scc/2025_YIR... #scc #cdnlaw #cdnpoli #justice
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Lawyers for the Ontario government stated in court that the objective of the Community Care and Recovery Act was not to shut down supervised consumption sites, but simply to relocate them. Did counsel mislead the court by not sharing what it knew about the government's true policy objectives?
All parties involved in the constitutional challenge brought forward by The Neighbourhood Group Community Services (TNGCS) and two individual Applicants against Ontario's Community Care and Recover Act will reconvene at the request of the Court today.
We will be live-posting from this account.
We will be live-posting from this account.
April 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Lawyers for the Ontario government stated in court that the objective of the Community Care and Recovery Act was not to shut down supervised consumption sites, but simply to relocate them. Did counsel mislead the court by not sharing what it knew about the government's true policy objectives?
Ok... but this feels like an American problem. My experience with Canadian law reviews has mirrored my experiences with social science journals (in a good way). Peer review is standard here. Law students are involved but not in the same way as the US... Curious what other Can legal scholars think.
One of the most troubling aspects of the legal academy is how professors publish scholarship of debatable—to put it mildly—quality, which is then cited as authority in judicial opinions. It’s a legitimation machine for reactionary legal change. And now it’s coming for citizenship.
Looks like the leading anti-birthright article has placed but is also still under construction.
Over the course of the next day or so, I will explain why the version that has been online for the last couple of weeks (and was labeled a “completed article”) for people to see is quite bad.
Over the course of the next day or so, I will explain why the version that has been online for the last couple of weeks (and was labeled a “completed article”) for people to see is quite bad.
April 1, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Ok... but this feels like an American problem. My experience with Canadian law reviews has mirrored my experiences with social science journals (in a good way). Peer review is standard here. Law students are involved but not in the same way as the US... Curious what other Can legal scholars think.
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
www.cambridge.org/core/books/c...
The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory is now available electronically.
@rbellamy.bsky.social @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social @alixabeth.bsky.social inter alia
The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory is now available electronically.
@rbellamy.bsky.social @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social @alixabeth.bsky.social inter alia
March 27, 2025 at 2:23 PM
www.cambridge.org/core/books/c...
The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory is now available electronically.
@rbellamy.bsky.social @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social @alixabeth.bsky.social inter alia
The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory is now available electronically.
@rbellamy.bsky.social @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social @alixabeth.bsky.social inter alia
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
A nation's sovereignty is not just about borders, resources, or political independence— it also depends on strong institutions that serve the common good. https://bit.ly/4c0h3eU 1/2
March 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A nation's sovereignty is not just about borders, resources, or political independence— it also depends on strong institutions that serve the common good. https://bit.ly/4c0h3eU 1/2
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Protecting Canadian democracy is precisely what the Canada Elections Act is for and one of its great features is that it forbids undue influence from foreigners. Read more from this opinion piece in CBA National: https://bit.ly/4iokHBS
Forget about Musk’s citizenship, enforce the Canada Elections Act
Protecting Canadian democracy is precisely what the legislation is for and one of its great features is that it forbids undue influence from foreigners
bit.ly
March 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Protecting Canadian democracy is precisely what the Canada Elections Act is for and one of its great features is that it forbids undue influence from foreigners. Read more from this opinion piece in CBA National: https://bit.ly/4iokHBS
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
I’m on CBC’s Front Burner pod today with Jeet Heer, talking about the history and current moment of Canada nationalism — and what we might do with it.
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
What is this new Canadian patriotism? | Front Burner | CBC Podcasts | CBC Listen
Canadian pride reached a fever pitch after the NHL 4 Nations Cup last month and it hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down since. Sales of the Canadian flags are up. American liquor and beer have been...
www.cbc.ca
March 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I’m on CBC’s Front Burner pod today with Jeet Heer, talking about the history and current moment of Canada nationalism — and what we might do with it.
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Hi! I have four law degrees and teach law. Can confirm. Is extremely bad.
I think disappearing people who are here legally because the state disagreed with their speech is Bad but I don’t have a law degree so what do I know
March 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Hi! I have four law degrees and teach law. Can confirm. Is extremely bad.
Reposted by Sarah Ferencz
Canadian MP Charlie Angus: I am here today to urge Canadians to avoid travel to the United States if at all possible and to call on our government to stand up for our citizens who are being denied their rights through arbitrary detention in the United States.
March 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Canadian MP Charlie Angus: I am here today to urge Canadians to avoid travel to the United States if at all possible and to call on our government to stand up for our citizens who are being denied their rights through arbitrary detention in the United States.