January 5, 1996 For Immediate Release
YORKTON ROBBERY SHOWS NEED TO GET TOUGHER WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS
"The Liberal's approach does not make young offenders responsible - Boot Camps would."
Yorkton - Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, expressed anger and frustration at not being able to get Allan Rock, Minister of Justice, to get tough on Young Offenders. "When the Liberals introduced, debated and passed Bill C-37, an Act to amend the Young Offenders Act in 1995, Reformers asked that the definition of a young offender be lowered to 10 years of age, from the current 12. If the Liberals had accepted our recommendation, the eleven year old accomplice in the armed robbery with violence last week in Yorkton would have been charged instead of being turned over to a social worker. Liberals say they want to make our streets safer but does this kid-glove treatment make anyone feel any safer?" asked Breitkreuz.
"Another Reform amendment, which was voted down by the Liberal government, proposed that 16 and 17 year olds be treated as adults. If our amendment had been passed the sixteen year old charged by Yorkton RCMP this week for robbery with violence would have been charged in adult court," reported Breitkreuz. "Sixteen and seventeen year olds are old enough to assume full responsibility for their crimes, old enough to be tried in adult court and old enough to receive an adult sentence. Seniors contacting me are very concerned about their safety and the lack of justice in the justice system. Reformers are listening and it's about time Liberals unplug their ears."
During the debate of Bill C-37, the Reform Party also recommended that the privacy and secrecy provisions of the Young Offenders Act be removed so the names of young offenders can be published, and the sentencing of young offenders must emphasize victim compensation. "Community service, skills training, education and opportunities for rehabilitation must be in a disciplined environment like a boot camp," recommended Breitkreuz. "We also believe that the parents of young offenders should be held responsible for compensating victims, if it can be demonstrated that they have not made a reasonable effort to exercise parental control."
The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics recently reported that about 40 percent of young offenders convicted in 1993/94 were repeat offenders and about one quarter of these had three or more prior convictions. These statistics and this most recent violent crime in Yorkton shows the need for real reform. The protection of society should be the first priority of government," concluded Breitkreuz.
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BREITKREUZ' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REFORM OF THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT
(1)FIRST OF ALL, THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT SHOULD PLACE THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY AND OUR CITIZENS AS ITS FIRST PRIORITY. I DON'T MIND GIVING FIRST OFFENDERS A CHANCE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND BUT ALLOWING KIDS TO GET OFF WITH CRIME AFTER CRIME WITHOUT EVEN SO MUCH AS A SLAP ON THE WRIST IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
(2)IT SHOULD BE CLEAR IN THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT THAT YOUNG PERSONS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS TO THE LARGER SOCIETY AND WOULD BE PUNISHED IF THEY FAILED TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS.
(3)PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SHOULD BE MADE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EXERCISING PARENTAL CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES THEIR CHILDREN COMMIT IF THEY FAILED TO PLACE REASONABLE CONTROLS ON THEIR CHILDREN.
(4)ANY OFFENDER AGE 16 AND OLDER SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ADULT AND BE TRIED IN ADULT COURT.
(5)YOUNG OFFENDERS SHOULD BE REDEFINED TO INCLUDE THOSE OFFENDERS WHO ARE BETWEEN THE AGES 10 AND 15, COMPARED TO THE CURRENT DEFINITION OF 12 TO 17.
(6)YOUNG OFFENDERS, AGED 14 AND 15, WHO REPEAT SERIOUS CRIMES SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO ADULT COURT
(7)ANY YOUNG OFFENDER WHO USES A GUN IN THE COMMISSION OF AN OFFENCE SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY TRIED IN ADULT COURT.
(8)YOUNG OFFENDERS WHO ARE INCARCERATED WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO COMPLETE EDUCATION/SKILLS UPGRADING WITHIN A DISCIPLINED ENVIRONMENT. I HAPPEN TO THINK BOOT CAMPS AND WORK CAMPS ARE A GOOD IDEA.
(9)LOW RISK OFFENDERS, REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATION/ SKILLS UPGRADING, WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO "WORK FOR THEIR KEEP" BY CONTRIBUTING TO CIVIC OR BUSINESS PROJECTS.
(10)ONLY THOSE YOUNG OFFENDERS WHO SHOW A DETERMINATION TO REHABILITATE THEMSELVES WOULD BE GIVEN SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND/OR EARLY PAROLE
(11)YOUNG OFFENDERS AND THEIR PARENTS WOULD BE HELD LEGALLY LIABLE FOR PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO THEIR VICTIMS
(12)YOUNG OFFENDER'S CRIMINAL RECORDS WOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS ADULT CRIMINAL RECORDS.
(13)AND FINALLY,THE PUBLIC HAVE A RIGHT, THROUGH THE MEDIA, TO BE INFORMED OF THE CRIMINAL AND JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES OF YOUNG OFFENDERS.
Note: First released June 17, 1994