The Toronto Star, Saturday July 19, 2008
http://www.thestar.com/article/460704
The Conservative government’s intended bill to get tough on crime and increase minimum sentencing is one of the most dim-witted bills in a long time. The American example has shown that increasing sentencing does not decrease crime so why is the government introducing a bill that intends to do just that? They want to be seen as a government that is tough on crime but they are just wasting tax payers money.
Experts say that increasing minimum sentencing is not the answer to decreasing crime, early intervention is. If the way to decrease crime is known, then why doesn’t the government spend its money on that instead of building new prison facilities? It would be a much better use of the money.
I think the government is choosing this path because it knows that it can get public support right away instead of educating the public about the issue. 76% of Canadians support this bill but to me, this just increases my belief in the stupidity of masses of people. No one who knows anything about the criminal justice system supports this bill and yet the government is still proposing it instead of protecting its constituents. I guess it really comes down to the question of what is more important for the government to do; represent or protect the people? In this case I really wish it would choose protection.
One thing that really upsets me is a quote in this article from Stephan Harper saying that the criminal justice system “has been moving in the wrong direction for 30 years”. Then why has crime been decreasing with the overall crime rate down 27% in 2006; a 25 year low! Yes, Harper is being told by the Canadian people that he needs to lower crime rates but this bill will do the exact opposite.
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3 comments:
I think more money spent on prevention of crimes is the way to go.
This is just another example of the governments way of trying to sweep problems under the carpet instead of dealing with them. Why are we not educating these people, providing them with the necessary skills to be productive members of society instead of locking them up. And at who's expense???
This is true- more people in jail will cost taxpayers more money. The assumption that more criminals in jail will lower the crime rate is based on the idea that criminals are one certian section of society and that nobody but "criminals" ever commits crimes. Many people have done illegal and gotten away with it, I certainly have and you probably have as well. Doesn't make us career criminals for running a red light or smoking a joint.
If everyone who ever did anything illegal, no matter how small, were arrested, our prisons would be overflowing. Discretion must be applied in the law and the best judgement of police, courts and other officials should be relevant as opposed to a 'one shot and you're out' kind of legislation.
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