Pubdate: Sat, 22 Apr 2006
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2006 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Jonathon Naylor

COURTS ARE TOO LENIENT

Re: Is PM cleaning up justice, or trolling for votes? (April 20).

I'm troubled by Gordon Sinclair's apparent willingness to brush off 
crimes committed by anyone with a sob story. First off, everyone has 
been through tough times, yet most somehow get by without ending up 
on the wrong side of the law.

Just as worrisome is the all-too-common sentencing tool of house 
arrest. You better watch it, criminals, or you'll end up (gasp!) in 
your house! It's true that no one sentenced to two or more years is 
eligible for house arrest. The problem is our courts never mean what 
they say. Three years in jail doesn't mean three years in jail. It 
can mean four months in jail followed by probation.

By continually expecting more of criminals than they deserve and by 
letting them back onto the street, lenient courts have become an 
accomplice to those who would harm our society. It's as if we're 
afraid to keep people locked up because, darn it, we're just so nice. 
If the true problem is lack of prison capacity, I'll be the first to 
sign a petition for a new jail construction tax. It will be the first 
tax in my life I'd happily pay.

JONATHON NAYLOR

Flin Flon
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman