PRESS RELEASE

Help Amanda Murphy

 Have We Learned Nothing From Ashley Smith

Stop Criminalizing People With Special Needs

Advocating Parents of Nova Scotia and People First Nova Scotia is holding a press conference:

Date:        Monday, 20 January 2014

Time:        1:30 pm

Location:  SCRI Society The Club, St. James Anglican Church, 2668 Joseph Howe

Drive, Halifax…Armdale Rotary, between Joseph Howe Drive and

St Margaret’s Bay Road.

The Club can be seen from the rotary. Go to the white doorway next to the 

painted power box.

Amanda is a beautiful young woman of 34 years.  She is diagnosed with bipolar, epilepsy and is at a cognitive level of a five to eight year old child.  She experiences periodic episodes of aggressive behavior which has resulted in numerous police interventions, criminal charges and convictions and probation.  Amanda has an intellectual disability and health issues; she is not a criminal and should not be treated as one.  

Police intervention, criminal charges and convictions must cease.  There are other methods of handling aggressive behavior rather than criminalizing our most vulnerable group of citizens.  

Provincial demonstrations of support are planned for Amanda Murphy as she faces sentencing for an assault charge from an employee in a residential setting.

For further information please contact:

Cindy Carruthers, People First Nova Scotia – 902-305-0423