Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Abbotsford News Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Mark Rushton THE TIME SHOULD FIT THE CRIME The federal government finally takes action on marijuana grow ops, proposing minimum jail and prison sentences, and what does the bureaucracy in the prison system do? It wrings its hands, and claims there isn't room for more prisoners, in either the federal or provincial system. Give me a break! Move out the wide-screen TVs, convert the gyms and pitch and putts into cell areas. These guys and gals are not at Club Med. They are supposed to be doing nasty time, just like the trauma they inflicted on their victims. And if it takes double or triple bunking, or an uncomfortable existence within the walls, so be it. Can't do the time, don't do the crime. That's a saying most criminals in this country don't hear often, or believe in, because our "justice" system is a joke. Remember the story about a young woman who was victimized, raped twice, threatened with her life? The guy got six months. A lesser crime, and the sentence might be house arrest, or a few hours community work, which I really doubt is ever "served." A crime more vicious and the crook, if he/she isn't let out on bail, gets credit for double the time served in jail before being sentenced. No wonder crime is rampant. Criminals don't give a damn about harming or shooting people because if they don't get away with it, they'll probably just get a slap on the wrist . and besides the money they can make is just too good to pass up. So the feds react, and all we get is whining and probably the civil liberties bunch going apoplectic. Somewhere along the line, the rights of victims has been superceded by the rights of the criminal. Justice is supposed to mete out the appropriate punishment, but thanks to our benevolent court system, it doesn't anymore. And that is why we see innovative attempts to recognize the rights of victims. Restorative justice is one that provides the victim with the opportunity to make the criminal understand the pain they have caused, to realize that a victim's sentence is a lifetime of horrifying memories. Our courts, in some cases, also allow people - victims or family members - to make victim impact statements. While these may help somewhat in the healing process, they usually have little impact on the criminal. One-on-one in restorative justice might have more effect, but it only seems to work on first time offenders, perhaps nipping a life of crime in the bud. At least it allows the victim to make clear just how much the crime has been, and will always continue to be, a violation of his or her life. However, had we a just court system, one in which the punishment fits the crime, maybe we wouldn't need that. Seeing someone put away forever just might be more therapeutic than knowing your pain and memories will last a lifetime, while the perpetrator is out wandering the streets in a few weeks, months or years. I have to confess though, that should a heinous crime be committed against me or my family, "restorative" justice would be the sound of a slide-action shotgun cycling a round into the chamber. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek