Pubdate: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 Abbotsford News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD Website: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Vikki Hopes Justice system takes 'anything but jail' approach, Abbotsford town hall meeting told Ed Schellenberg would likely still be alive today if the justice system did not take an "anything but jail" approach to dealing with criminals, his brother-in-law told a crowd attending a town hall meeting earlier tonight in Abbotsford. Steve Brown said two of the four people killed in the Surrey Six slayings had "shocking criminal histories" and should have been in jail. Instead, they were among the four that became the targets of an alleged gang hit in which Schellenberg, 55, of Abbotsford was an innocent bystander, along with Chris Mohan, 22. Police believe Schellenberg and Mohan were killed because they were potential witnesses. Brown refers to the killings as "the Surrey four, plus two." They occurred exactly three years ago today - on Oct. 19, 2007 - at the Balmoral Tower apartment complex in Surrey. Brown criticized a system that he said is more focused on rehabilitation than punishment. He was joined in these sentiments by fellow speakers Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich and retired provincial court judge Wallace Craig. "I'm convinced we're the only jurisdiction in the world that has these prolific offenders out in the streets," Brown said. Craig said judges in the past were "no-nonsense," but in the last 30 years they have shied away from tough sentences. "That's what they're there for, and if they can't cut it, they shouldn't be there. They should go do civil cases," he said. Craig said "rampant plea bargaining" and "sweetheart deals" have ensured that justice is not properly served for the victims of crime and that effective deterrents to crime do not exist. Rich said contributing to the inefficiencies is a complicated and fragmented system in which the federal government is in charge of the Criminal Code of Canada, while the provincial government is the administrator. "When you add that all up, what you have is two masters .... We have put no one in charge of our criminal justice system," he said. Rich said the system is "falling down under its own weight," resulting in unbearably long delays in cases getting to court and reaching a conclusion. Even a simple impaired charge takes an average of two days in court, he said. When penalties are doled out, they are not enough of a deterrent to prevent future crimes, Rich said. He cited the example of a marijuana grow-op able to produce an annual gross income of between $500,000 and $1 million in an average-sized house. A first-time offender arrested for such an operation would face a fine of between $1,500 and $2,000, he added. He addressed Abbotsford's gang issues and the challenge in trying to lure kids away from a lifestyle often portrayed as a "viable career option." Rich specifically referred to the Abbotsford Police's latest challenge - - the Duhre group. "The Duhre brothers now control drugs in Abbotsford. These three brothers are running a network of gangs in Abbotsford ... We now need to make them a focus," he said. Brown said he hopes the town hall meeting - held at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium-is the start of citizens taking more control of their rights to a free and safe society. He referred people to his Facebook page, "My Search for Justice." "I desire that the public take ownership and some solutions to this important issue that we can take to the next levels of government," he said. Several of the more than 100 audience members said they were concerned about the lax justice system. Some were victims of crime themselves, while others sported T-shirts bearing the message "Revolving door makes judges accomplices" on the front and "100% contempt for BC judges" on the back. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt