Pubdate: Tue, 15 Dec 2009
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Page: A10
Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

SENATE SMARTER ON CRIME

Nothing frightens politicians these days like the risk of being seen 
as -- shudder -- soft on crime. That's the only explanation for 
Liberal MPs' support earlier this year for a Conservative bill that 
would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of six months for someone 
caught growing as few as five marijuana plants.

Fortunately, senators don't face the same pressures. The Senate 
passed an amended version of the crime bill yesterday. It left the 
mandatory minimum provisions in place, but raised the threshold to 
200 plants. That allows judges to make the decision about jail, based 
on the circumstances. There is no point -- and considerable expense 
and risk -- in sending a 19-year-old to prison for half-a-dozen 
scraggly pot plants.

The Senate amendments also require a cost-benefit review of all 
minimum sentence provisions after five years. Mandatory minimum 
sentences in other jurisdictions have produced great leaps in prison 
populations and no reduction in crime. The government has produced no 
studies to justify their expansion here.

The senators' amendments are welcome.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom