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[溫哥華本地新聞] Taking a stand against the new crime bill
Taking a stand against the new crime billCriminal lawyer Paula Mallea is worried that longer prison sentences could have negative affectsAndrew Hopkins
Dec 07, 2011 02:16:01 AM http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/307393--taking-a-stand-against-the-new-crime-bill
Taking a stand against the new 2
[/url] [url=http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/307393--taking-a-stand-against-the-new-crime-bill#]
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Crime bill critic looks to Senators to step in and stop the legislation.
A critic of the Conservative government's crime reduction strategies is hoping the Senate will bring changes to the omnibus crime bill passed in the House of Commons this week.
Criminal lawyer Paula Mallea is so concerned about the move to longer prison sentences, she wrote a book about it.
Mallea worries stiffer penalties won't stop criminals, many of whom she says aren't thinking about the consequences when they break the law.
She also suggests provinces will foot most of the bill to imprison people longer, and to process them through the courts.
"That's all up to the provinces, and I think the provinces are just starting to catch on that their federal counterparts are passing a bill that's going to bankrupt their treasuries", says Mallea.
Mallea, who authored 'Fearmonger: Stephen Harper's Tough-on-Crime Agenda' says Conservative senators should be fiscally responsible, and take a stand against the bill.
Mallea believes lengthier jail terms will also mean more re-offending because criminals will be released, feeling angry and bitter.
"If all you plan to do is incarcerate people for longer, in worse conditions - which is what this legislation does - you won't drive the crime rate down, and you're very likely to drive it up."
Mallea adds crime rates are dropping across the country, and she can't see why the government is shifting strategies.
She warns any move by future governments, to reverse this change to stiffer penalties will take years.
"You can re-design your sentencing project, but everyone that's already in custody - unless there are exceptional circumstances - is going to have to serve out his entire sentence," suggests Mallea.
The Conservatives claim their Safe Streets and Communities Act brings the country another step closer to crakcing down on dangerous drug dealers, and child sexual offenders |
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發表於 2011-12-7 06:45
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