Pubdate: Tue, 15 Dec 2009 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Abbotsford News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD Website: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Andrew Holota Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) PUT A LOCK ON THE REVOLVING DOOR OF JUSTICE In last week's go-git-'em column on gangs, I made passing reference to the revolving door court system. Pounding that point home is a study by Abbotsford Police Const. Ian Parks, who researched the criminal histories of repeat property crime offenders. Published in our Thursday edition, his findings are utterly stunning. If they don't cause judges to question what they're doing, then who knows what will. If his research doesn't shame federal politicians of all stripes - but particularly those of liberal bent who subscribe to the molly-coddling of criminals - then probably nothing can. In 2006, Parks identified 456 people convicted of property crimes and examined their criminal background, re-offences over the following two years, and the court's response to target charges and its sentencing practices. Of that group, he identified 46 individuals as "super prolific" offenders, meaning they had 30-plus convictions for property crime. In fact, they had far more - with an average of 47 convictions. And it gets worse. Parks found that while 80 per cent of the offenders, nearly 40 per cent got no more than a day behind bars, and another 50 per cent received sentences of less than two weeks. Employing remarkable restraint, Parks calls the justice system "alarmingly inadequate." How about ludicrous. Outrageous. Appalling. There can't be any sensible justification for allowing these chronic criminals back onto the streets, time after time after time. I'm aware that some years ago, the federal government let it be known that it wanted fewer people sent to jail. Judges and Crown were to consider other alternatives to prison. For first or second-time offenders, I get that. Try probation, and community service, and monitoring, and rehabilitation, and drug addiction treatment, and counselling, and life skills training, and whatever else is at our disposal to help someone to turn his or her life around. People deserve a second chance, maybe even a third. But 30? Forty? As Parks says, maybe the American system of three strikes and you're out, is a touch harsh. But how about 30 strikes and you're out! I'd say 10 criminal convictions, and it's so long to freedom for five years. I'd bet many of you would recommend 10 years. Mandatory. No parole, no day passes, no breaks. You're done. Mandatory incarceration goes beyond merely punishment. The judicial system is doing a tremendous disservice to society - and the individual - by tossing them back onto the street. Most property crime is directly related to substance abuse issues. These guys are financing drug habits. Turfing them out after only a few days/weeks/months in jail simply means they aren't free of their addictions, and it's right back to crime for cash. A long stint in prison has to be coupled with treatment programs, and all the other rehabilitation tools. And if all that doesn't work in one or two long-term go-arounds, then let's have the collective guts to say "Sorry, we tried, you're a lost cause. We're moving on, you're staying behind bars." What's happening now is beyond all reason, to say nothing of monumentally expensive, in terms of victims' costs, law enforcement, court proceedings, incarceration (albeit so brief), social services, and a host of other related costs. Politicians make laws, and Crown and judges apply them. Let's get on that, shall we? - --- MAP posted-by: Doug