[hurley_108]

Tories to extend life sentences to juveniles

$1:

OTTAWA and MONTREAL — Stephen Harper's Conservatives are promising to change the law so that young offenders 14 and older convicted of murder could go to jail for life, even if they are tried as children.

A typical sentiment from the Conservathals, but as usual, the devil's in the details:

$1:

In Ottawa today, Mr. Harper announced that if re-elected, the Conservatives would adopt stiffer sentences for youths 14 to 18.

But each province can choose the age a which the promised new provisions would kick in, he said. The concession is likely designed to keep rehabilitation-focused Quebec on side.

Yet more of this 10 Canadas shit that Harper's trying to push. We're one country, there should be one law, and one standard.

$1:

Mr. Harper is also promising to name young offenders over 14 who are convicted of a serious crime, changing the law that protects the identity of those tried as children.

...

Those convicted of serious violent crimes would automatically be named. But the Tories would also allow judges to release the identities of young offenders over 14 convicted of less serious crimes, like car theft, according to Mr. Harper's aides.

So children 14 years old are now to be expected to be mature enough to understand the ramifications of their actions to the point of having their name released for a crime they committed, but they're not deemed mature enough to drive on their own, drink, smoke, buy porn, or vote? And only the worst examples of teh demographic are expected to have this maturity and understanding? Where is the conservative proposal for singling out examples of excellent behaviour and achivement for special priveleges? Why is the emphasis only on piling more punishment on the opposite extreme? It really must be a dreary worl to the conservatives that they only see and focus on the bad.

And naming names for car theft? That's just cruel. I can understand, even if I don't agree with, the argument for naming killers, but a car is just stuff. It's not worth shaming someone for life for a mistake.

$1:

Mr. Bala said different treatment by province might face constitutional challenge, but it's hard to say whether the Tory proposals would pass legal muster because they have not released a draft version of the bill with details.

That's the Conservatives for you - wasting our precious court resources on half-baked scemes whose constitutionality is dubious from the start. This will be challenged, it will be shot down, but some young offenders will eb named in teh interim that shouldn't have been and that can't be undone. This is a bad law, but the Conservatives will no doubt bleat about obstructionism when the Senate tries to do its job and block this bad law.

[Libralesso]

Funny how conservatives are so against crime when it benefits them. How about Harper bribing that MP? Under constitution that is a crime of treason which should be punished either by imprisonment or a hanging. Not being harsh just pointing out the crime and the punishments under our law. Or when he is done trying to make everyone else look like a criminal will he change that law for himself?

EDIT: Had to say this, I hate this dehumanizing and victimization of criminals. Calling them criminals and putting them away forever. Pretending that they are to problem instead of the social conditions that cause people to go to crime. Instead you label them as criminals and something less than human, that should be punished for being dysfunctional humans. It's just a quick fix and easy blame method.

[Reverend Blair]

I don't understand what naming names is supposed to do...give these kids something to brag to each other about?

[Regina]

It was changed years ago but I can't remember what the thinking was back then. Maybe something to do with dragging the family name through the papers??

[ridenrain]

Vancouver, Surrey, Winnipeg and so many others were car theft capitals of North America. Obviously, ignoring the problem isn't working.

[hurley_108]

ridenrain ridenrain:

Vancouver, Surrey, Winnipeg and so many others were car theft capitals of North America. Obviously, ignoring the problem isn't working.

Were they made so by 14 year-olds? Did said 14 year-olds say that if they faced being named for their actions they wouldn't have done it? Please. This is Harper and his ilk picking on a demographic that CAN'T VOTE AGAINST HIM for his own mean, narrow ends.

[hurley_108]

Regina Regina:

It was changed years ago but I can't remember what the thinking was back then. Maybe something to do with dragging the family name through the papers??

That's a good point. With adults, the parents can wash their hands of the crime, to an extent. Not so of a minor.

[hurley_108]

I also wonder at what point in the justice system these offenders are to be named - upon arrest? Upon going to trial? Upon sentencing? If it's anything bu upon sentencing then you're saddling these kids with having their name run throught eh press when they're still supposed to have presumption of innocence. That will be shattered if they're named before sentencing.

[ridenrain]

$1:

Should youth found guilty of serious crimes be named publicly upon conviction?

Yes, all of them 4862 votes (76 %)
Maybe just those 16 and older 1083 votes (17 %)
No, a kid is a kid 415 votes (7 %)

Total Votes: 6360

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/HTMLTemplate


From what I understand, many of these recommendations come from the 2006 recommendations of a Nova Scotia commission of inquiry led by retired Justice D. Merlin Nunn.

[hurley_108]

ridenrain ridenrain:

$1:

Should youth found guilty of serious crimes be named publicly upon conviction?

Yes, all of them 4862 votes (76 %)
Maybe just those 16 and older 1083 votes (17 %)
No, a kid is a kid 415 votes (7 %)

Total Votes: 6360

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/HTMLTemplate

You forgot this part of the polling page:

$1:

Disclaimer: This is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate.

$1:

From what I understand, many of these recommendations come from the 2006 recommendations of a Nova Scotia commission of inquiry led by retired Justice D. Merlin Nunn.

Point?

[RUEZ]

I think a lot of people in Canada are sick of crime, and especially the youth crime that seems to get slapped on the wrist. I'm in favour of naming names of juveniles involved in more serious crimes, especially if they were repeat offenders.

[xerxes]

hurley_108 hurley_108:

Regina Regina:

It was changed years ago but I can't remember what the thinking was back then. Maybe something to do with dragging the family name through the papers??

That's a good point. With adults, the parents can wash their hands of the crime, to an extent. Not so of a minor.

Unless they've changed the YCJA, don't juvenile records get expunged when the young offender reaches 18?

[Reverend Blair]

We're also missing perhaps the most salient point. Crime, including youth crime, has been declining for years. The old system may not have been fully effective, but the evidence suggests that it was on the right track.

Harper is trying to rip that track up. Once again he ignoring facts and instead appealing to emotion to fulfill his ideological agenda. The path he is on is the same one that has made things worse in the US.

[ridenrain]

I guess the point is that the 14 year old car theves will have to wait untill they get thrown in jail so they can vote Liberal.

You should do another graph.

$1:

While some crime rates have declined in recent years, violent crime among youth continues to be a serious social problem. In 2006, violent crime committed by young offenders was up 30 per cent from 1991. Almost 40,000 youth were accused of serious and violent crimes in 2006.

Almost 160 were accused of murder or attempted murder.

Almost 31,000 were accused of assault.

More than 2,100 were accused of sexual assault.

More than 4,500 were accused of robbery.[1]
The current law dealing with young offenders fails fundamentally at holding those who commit crimes accountable, and at deterring others from committing violent offences. Almost half of those accused of violent crimes in 2006 were not formally charged.[2]

The fact that these violent perpetrators are young does not mean they do not fully understand the consequences of their actions, and the harm they inflict on their victims and on society is nonetheless real. Young offenders must be held responsible for their behaviour, accountable to their victims and to the community, and rehabilitated before they fall permanently into a life of crime.

The Record

Our Conservative Government has put the protection and safety of our society first.

We passed the comprehensive Tackling Violent Crime Act, which increases protection for youth from sexual predators, gets serious with drug-impaired drivers, toughens sentencing and bail for serious drug offences, and increases protection from repeat dangerous offenders.

We created the Youth Gang Prevention Fund, to invest in community projects that help young people avoid a life of crime.

We passed legislation to increase penalties for street racing.

We passed legislation to end conditional sentences for serious personal injury offences.

We introduced a National Anti-Drug Strategy, which included funding for a National Youth Intervention Program, as well as new legislation that would provide mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes.

We appointed Canada’s first Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime to help ensure greater respect for the rights of victims.
In the last session of Parliament, the Government introduced Bill C-25, which implemented several key recommendations of the Nova Scotia commission of inquiry led by the Honourable D. Merlin Nunn.[3] The bill would have made it easier to impose pre-trial detention on those charged as young offenders if they were deemed a danger to the public or had previously violated release conditions. It would have also added deterring and denouncing unlawful conduct as principles of sentencing under the young offenders’ legislation.

Unfortunately, the Opposition refused to act on the bill, delaying its progress at committee. The Government has consulted further with provinces, territories and stakeholders to develop ideas to strengthen our young offenders legislation. Among the issues raised repeatedly are the provisions against naming young offenders, which allow youth to avoid public accountability for their crimes, no matter how reprehensible the offence or the level of responsibility of the youth involved.

[Libralesso]

Reverend Blair Reverend Blair:

We're also missing perhaps the most salient point. Crime, including youth crime, has been declining for years. The old system may not have been fully effective, but the evidence suggests that it was on the right track.

Harper is trying to rip that track up. Once again he ignoring facts and instead appealing to emotion to fulfill his ideological agenda. The path he is on is the same one that has made things worse in the US.

Actually that is probably the most important fact, this fear mongering is completely unwarranted.