Pubdate: Fri, 18 Dec 2009
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Page: A5
Copyright: 2009 The Windsor Star
Contact: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Chris Thompson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

CRIME BILLS LINKED TO JAIL OVERCROWDING

Stricter drug sentencing legislation being proposed by the federal 
government would result in worsening overcrowding in jails such as 
Windsor's, Windsor-Tecumseh MP Joe Comartin says.

Bill C-15, which is currently before the Liberal-controlled Senate, 
would see mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug crime 
beginning at six months.

"It's quite clear that we don't have the facilities," said Comartin. 
"We're double-bunking and triple-bunking in federal and provincial 
institutions already."

The legislation calls for mandatory minimum sentences in a number of 
situations, including: . when the offence of trafficking is carried 
out for organized crime purposes or a weapon or violence is involved; 
. the drug is sold to youth or the trafficking takes place near a 
school; . the production of a drug presents a potential security, 
health or safety hazard to children or a residential community.

On Monday Liberal senators passed amendments that Justice Minister 
Rob Nicholson says gut the legislation.

"Once again, the Liberals and their colleagues are playing politics 
at the expense of the safety and security of Canadians," Nicholson 
said in a news release.

"We need Michael Ignatieff to take a stand against the gangs and 
organized crime who exploit Canada's most vulnerable citizens, 
including our youth."

The Liberal amendments removed the mandatory penalty targeting drug 
producers with between five and 200 marijuana plants.

Nicholson said the loophole will allow gangs and organized crime to 
grow for the purpose of trafficking between 100 and 200 marijuana 
plants in five or six different locations without jail time.

Comartin said the NDP opposes the legislation as well as another bill 
restricting conditional sentences.

He said if all the Conservative crime bills were to pass it could 
double the number of people incarcerated in Canadian jails.

"If they got all their bills through it could potentially see a 
doubling of the number of people in our prisons," said Comartin.

He said the government would have to find a place to incarcerate 
people in a system that is already overcrowded.
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