Pubdate: Fri, 01 May 2015
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Stefania Seccia
Page: 4
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?267 (Mandatory Minimum 
Sentencing - Canada)

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR VANCOUVER DRUG CASE

The Supreme Court of Canada decided Thursday it will hear an appeal 
of mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offences in a Vancouver 
case, which could provide clarity on how sentencing policy fits in 
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It's the first challenge under the Safe Streets and Communities Act 
of 2012 brought in by the Stephen Harper government requiring 
one-year mandatory minimum jail terms for drug convictions.

Downtown Eastside resident Joseph Lloyd was 25 when he was caught 
carrying less than 10 grams of heroin, crack cocaine, and crystal 
meth. When he was sentenced, he told the court he was addicted to all 
three drugs.

The provincial court found the case's mandatory minimum sentence 
amounted to "cruel and unusual" punishment and deferred from imposing 
the required one-year jail term.

However, it was overturned by the B.C. Court of Appeal, which 
increased the sentence by another six months.

When the case went before the appeal court, Pivot Legal Society and 
the B.C. Civil Liberties Association intervened at the hearing, 
arguing that mandatory minimum sentences for possession for the 
purpose of trafficking have a disproportionate effect on women, 
Aboriginal people, and people who are involved in the drug trade due 
to addiction.

Now 27, Lloyd is currently carrying out his jail sentence.

"Mandatory minimum sentences are bad public policy for everyone; for 
women and aboriginal people and people who come before the court as a 
result of addiction" said Adrienne Smith, health and drug policy 
lawyer with Pivot. "It's cruel and unusual punishment and for that we 
feel they should strike it down."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom