The epidemic of leniency in our justice system is not a myth created by the media. Statistics back up the stories that plaster our newsstands and television screens. The numbers show that in the Canada, tough sentences are the exception…
The Appropriate Sentence
The crimes of violence committed across this country are horrific, unpleasant to think about and even more unpleasant to talk about. Unjustifiably moderate sentences that often follow criminal convictions are an insult to victims and their families, and show a…
How do we Measure Up?
How much crime is there in Canada? Officials often try to defend the Canadian justice system by claiming that our crime rates are much lower than in the United States and by claiming that the public perceives crime rates to…
Conditional Sentencing – Making Sense of the Senseless
Conditional sentencing was enacted in 1996 by Jean Chrétien’s Liberal government despite heavy criticism from opposition parties. Under this alternative sentencing option, an offender sentenced to a term of imprisonment of less than two years could be ordered to serve…
When Sentencing Isn’t an Issue – Letting the Guilty Walk Free
There are many cases where sentencing does not even become a factor, as a conviction was never reached due to a technicality, or in order to protect Charter Rights. These occurrences frustrate the law abiding population, police officers who work…
Canadian Judges – Who are they?
In general, Canadian judges are partisan appointees (political supporters) who are usually lawyers before being appointed to the bench. Judge appointees normally have at least ten years experience as a lawyer, although the type of law they practiced is not…
Lawmakers and Judges – the Complex Relationship
The Criminal Code of Canada, in combination with other pieces of legislation, including the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, provides the foundation within which the criminal justice…
Conclusion
The faith of the public in the services and integrity of the Criminal Justice System is the cornerstone of that system. Without that faith, the system is more than just hindered – it is disabled The justice system is a…