Excellent op-ed by guest columnist James Morton in today's Sun (Our broken bail system). It's definitely worth the read.
Our courts are clogged, and people who are still a danger to society are released on bail. Reforms are in the works, but action is needed now:
So what's the solution? Directions to Crowns requiring real bail terms and appointment of enough Justices of the Peace to make sure bail is dealt with thoroughly and quickly are happening at the provincial level. Federally, we need to expedite the approval of bail reform which has stalled in Parliament. Sensible changes to the Bill have been suggested, but the basic terms of the reform are sound and should not be delayed. Both the province and the federal government are working to increase legal aid so people accused of crimes get to present their cases properly.
Our patience is wearing thin.
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Update: N.S. Premier wants teens gone wild corralled.
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Friday Update: Sentence Angers Victims Families - Warning! Very disturbing, graphic details. Read what the final sentence is and how the judge justifies it. This is disgusting.
Friday Update: Sentence Angers Victims Families - Warning! Very disturbing, graphic details. Read what the final sentence is and how the judge justifies it. This is disgusting.
25 comments:
I admit I do not know anything about the specific case, but when I read this:
"The changes, however, didn't come in time to save Det.-Const. Rob Plunkett. The individuals allegedly involved were out on bail while awaiting trial for their connection to an airbag theft ring."
It appears that the individuals involved were on bail for property related offences. If that is true, then the proposed bail reform bill would not have resulted in their detention.
The fact is that no matter what we do, some people will be victims of crime. No bail reform bill is going to change that.
Easy bail is one reason why witnesses don't speak out in crime ridden communities - the locals know that the thugs will be back in less than 24 hours: and thugs won't be respecting anyone's rights, they'll lay a beating on anyone or kill them so they don't testify if necessary.
Crime ridden communities are full of poor people who don't have very good PR or political connections, so judges don't care.
Bail should be the exception not the rule in cases of violent crime. The Tories have a reverse onus on bail bill. It is bill c 35. This should be passed with the other crime bills blocked by the grits, the criminal's friend!
You came up alittle short on your comment Gail...you should have said, No airbag...no crime!
gayle...sorry, to used to the other spelling
No airbag...no crime!
Ha-ha!
Dr. Roy, thanks for the link. It puzzles me that it is being held up, considering that it has the support of even extreme Lefties like Miller and McGuinty.
Joanne - you need to check out Steve Janke's blog re: Michael Bryant's anti-hand gun connections.
Anon - Thanks! More awesome work by Steve. Link is here.
It took us a long time to get into this mess. It will take a long time to get out of it. We need to start by teaching kids empathy and self responsibility. It will take a generation or two to get this through to the entire society.
We need to start by teaching kids empathy and self responsibility.
That's right. It all goes back to the integrity of the family, which is in serious peril in Canada today - especially in inner cities.
It may all go back to the home and the parents, BUT, parents need to trust that the systems(school, policing, social services) uphold what's being taught in the home.
Often, especially with the over-the-top social engineering that goes on, the systems we trust our kids to often derail what's being taught at home.
It's not one or the other's responsibility. It's ALL!!
It's very easy for the system to point fingers and demand accountability from parents, but boy, oh boy, just try to eek the same from systems that have historically been accountable to no one but themselves.
For those of you wondering what is holding up the passage of Bill C-35, the answer may be found here:
http://www.garryoledzki.ca/GoodaleJennings_CrimeStrategy_en[1].pdf
It is not the liberals holding this one up as they have offered to fast track it. The ball is now in Harper's court (so to speak :)).
Too funny Gayle.Linking to something put out by Ralph Goodale.I can provide links from Conservatives saying the exact opposite. The one thing i miss about the summer recess is Goodale's daily demand for an apology of the day.
I might also point out that Goodale's link states the bill regarding age of consent will be fast tracked.Might want to let Dion know that,since he states he won't accept the bill.
.Might want to let Dion know that,since he states he won't accept the bill.
Really? I missed that. On what grounds?
I can provide links from Conservatives saying the exact opposite.
Please do.
http://www.guylauzon.ca/EN/articles/bill_c-10/
Thanks for that link, Paul. Good 'stuff'. ;)
One solution is to quit clogging the system with non-crime drug offences. Legalize 'em.
paul - what are you talking about?
The liberals have gone on record to say they want to fast track the bail bill - they made a motion in the HofC to do just that - a motion that was defeated by the conservatives, and you send us to a site that talks about a completely different bill?
As for the age of consent - the liberals offered to fast track that one too - also defeated by the conservatives.
Nice try though.
Gayle,read the link again.
"Despite campaigning on a promise to double mandatory minimums in the last election, Stéphane Dion and the Liberals have fought at every step to water down Bill C-10, just as they have fought to water-down other tough-on-crime measures, including C-9: a bill that would restrict the use of conditional sentences (i.e. house arrest) for serious crimes; C-27: a bill that would reverse the onus for criminals convicted of two prior violent or sexual offences; and C-35: a bill to reverse onus on bail applications involving firearms offences."
Fast tracking a bill is one thing.Watering it down before fast tracking is another.That's the reason Harper balked at the offer.The bills need to go through with the power required to make a difference.Now if Goodale or Dion agreed to fast track the bills as written I would agree with you.
As for the age of consent bill,at the end of the sitting of Parliament Dion told Duffy he was having second thoughts about the bill because people could end up with a criminal record if they are more than 5 years older,and he did not think that was fair.(pun intended)
Paul - Thanks. Good pun, but serious subject matter. I am appalled at Dion's stance on that. Anyone more than 5 years older than a 14 to 16 year-old should not be messing around with these kids. They are too young to drive, drink, vote or anything else. They need protection. Dion should have his head read. I am disgusted.
paul - how are they watering down C-35? I am curious as this is the first I have heard that.
As for your report on Dion's comments - I prefer to rely on the official position of the liberals - which to date has consistently been they support the bill to raise the age of consent.
The real problem is that the conservatives insist on having ALL their bills passed together, despite the fact that at least two (mandatory minimum sentences and reverse onus on Dangerous offenders) are likely unconstitutional.
I see no reason why they choose not the pass the legislation they can pass, and continue to argue over that they canno, but apparently Harper does not see it that way.
The liberals are on record and have made a motion to pass the age of consent bill as is - this was defeated by the conservatives.
Oops - apparently wer are all wrong. This bill has already passed the HofC:
http://www.bevshipley.ca/EN/4866/55930
Maybe it's the Liberal-dominated unelected Senate that's holding things up. ;)
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