tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30445890.post2046860575245893248..comments2023-09-10T03:12:53.023-06:00Comments on The TRIALS: Big News in AlbertaLisa Hutchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11863395260444155668noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30445890.post-18098103188656665932007-07-13T09:55:00.000-06:002007-07-13T09:55:00.000-06:00Hear, hear. I TOTALLY agree ... and you've said i...Hear, hear. I TOTALLY agree ... and you've said it so much better than I could. <BR/><BR/>I LOVE that you mentioned the sentencing circles. <A HREF="http://lisahutch.blogspot.com/2007/02/so-as-for-school-today-first-of-all-i.html" REL="nofollow">Last year we got to participate in a mock sentencing circle</A>, and even though it was only an exercise, I could really see how powerful it could be!! That is exactly what I wanted to get at with highlighting that there must be a MEANINGFUL consequence. The consequence that arises out of a sentencing circle has been shown to be so much more meaningful to the offender (not to mention the process at arriving at the consequence).<BR/><BR/>I have to admit, I do agree with so much of how the YCJA performs, but I struggle still to decide how I think it performs in this situation (regarding sentencing in particular). I haven't taken one side or the other yet, especially since we're talking about the actions of a 12 year old child (12 is SOOOOOOO young, I think people forget that). I don't necessarily think that we should advocate for more "jail" time in this instance, but killing your entire immediate family seems SOOO extreme ... especially for a 12 year old child ... I wonder if this type of offence was in the minds of the legislation drafters when the YCJA was written. <BR/><BR/>Hopefully, this scenario doesn't ever play out again ... and it will be a moot pondering afterall.Lisa Hutchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11863395260444155668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30445890.post-68303307454098056872007-07-12T09:17:00.000-06:002007-07-12T09:17:00.000-06:00I think that there are two major issues with our l...I think that there are two major issues with our legal system in Canada.<BR/>1. There is no accountability to society by the guilty. No matter how red-handed someone is caught they get to claim innocence throughout the proceedings, sentencing and jail. They are for the most part never made to pay reparations or even apologise to the victims. Go into a prison and ask all the innocent people to put up their hands and see what the result is.<BR/>2. The other issue I have noticed is the lack of focus on rehabilitation or reintegration. A lot of inmates are released back into society without having to attend or respond to treatment or therapy. <BR/><BR/>The way in which the YCJA is different (and better than the adult system) is the focus on rehabilitation and reinigration (rather than cuff and stuff). Another positive move of the YCJA is that the Y/O's name is not released thereby making it impossible for the media to turn the accused into some sort of morbid celebrity. One of the reasons Lt. Col Dave Grossman (expert on killing) points out that there are very few "copy cat" killings in schools across Canada. Another area that isn't receiving due attention is restorative justice such as sentencing circles in native communities. I feel that the 'adult' system has a lot to learn from these other systems and that longer (or supposedly tougher) sentences are not always better (quality vs. quantity argument).<BR/>I think the youth system while definitely not perfect is way ahead of the adult system in Canada.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com