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Tough on Crime Bills on hold until Fall
July 2, 2007
Stark Raven News
No more 'tough on crime bills' have made it into law before parliament closed for the summer break on June 22, 2007.
Bill C-9 passed into law in late May. The bill eliminates the availability of conditional sentences or house arrest for certain crimes. Community groups are gravely concerned that this bill will increase the prisoner population by up to 20%.
Other justice bills are either still before the House of Commons or are in the Senate.Bill C-10 is currently before the Senate. This bill imposes new mandatory minimums on certain gun crimes. Many speculate that the Senate will send this bill back to the House of Commons for amendments.
Two other bills are also before the Senate. One raises the age of consent from 14 to 16. Another, bill C-35, reverses the onus for getting bail for those charged with gun crimes.
Bill C-27 is still before the House of Commons. This bill makes it easier to label people a dangerous offender. It also reverses the onus assuming people are guilty until proven innocent. Bill C-27 is also known as the three strikes bills, as after three convictions of a ‘dangerous’ crime, the defendant has to prove that they are not dangerous and do not warrant an indeterminate sentence.
Various community and prisoner groups have launched campaigns to raise awareness about the impacts of these bills.Parliament resumes on September 17, 2007.