Pubdate: Fri, 05 May 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: Paul Samyn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

CRIME-BUSTING BILL DOESN'T COME WITH CASH

Ottawa Won't Give Provinces Money To Cover Increase In Cost Of
Jails

OTTAWA -- The Harper government will make those convicted of serious
crime do serious time, but won't give the provinces serious cash to
cover an increase in jail costs.

While the Conservatives have set aside $245 million to help pay for a
new medium-security federal prison to deal with an expected spike in
the number of inmates from new mandatory minimum sentences for gun
crimes, no financial aid is planned for provinces footing the bill for
an end to house arrest for serious crimes.

Justice Minister Vic Toews said the provinces had been calling for the
legislative crackdown he unveiled yesterday and they can tap into
existing federal funding Ottawa already flows to pay for more jail
space.

"We are changing the focus of the justice system so that serious crime
means serious time," Toews (Provencher) said of the two bills he
introduced yesterday.

"With these two bills, the new government is meeting its commitment to
protect Canadian communities and families by tackling gun, gang and
drug violence and keeping criminals off the streets."

Toews said a bill laying out mandatory minimum sentences for drug
offences will come later.

The rollout of the Conservative law and order legislation comes even
as statistics show crime rates across the country are falling.

But citing U.S. stats showing how mandatory minimum sentences have
reduced violent crimes like murder, Toews maintained the legislation
will make Canadians safer.

Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh said the province will study
how the new federal laws will impact on its already overcrowded jails.

"Clearly, with the change in conditional sentences there will be some
increase in the incarcerated population but the extent of that cannot
be finally determined," said Mackintosh who welcomed Toews' bills.

"We will continue that analysis."

Mackintosh said discussions are already taking place with federal
officials about potential financial support, adding there were signals
that Ottawa appreciates the need to help Manitoba meet the extra costs.

University of Manitoba law professor David Deutscher said Toews' bills
won't live up to his rhetoric.

"All of this stuff is good politics and bad policy," Deutscher said.
"There is no evidence at all that mandatory minimum sentencing will do
anything to make people safer."

Rather than act as a deterrence, Deutscher said all that will happen
is that that people who don't deserve harsh sentences will find
themselves behind bars.

"The only people who will do well here are those who build prisons,"
he said.

Crime bill highlights

Highlights of two new crime bills Justice Minister Vic Toews unveiled
yesterday.

NEW MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES

FOR SERIOUS CRIMES: The new law is expected to mean tougher sentences
in federal prisons for about 400 people a year

If you use a gun to commit serious crimes like robbery, murder, gang
activity or sexual assault you will get:

* Five years for a first offence

* Seven years if you have a prior conviction

* 10 years if you have more than one prior conviction

Conditional sentences (for crimes which result in sentences less than
two years in a provincial prison):

* About 5,500 people a year will no longer qualify for house arrest,
which has allowed them to avoid jail time in provincial prisons. Of
those 5,500, federal officials expect 70 per cent will go to jail
while the balance will receive suspended sentences which puts them on
probation.

* The bill will end conditional sentences for those convicted of
violent and sexual offences, break and enter, impaired driving causing
death or bodily harm or major drug crimes.
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MAP posted-by: Lawrence Seguin