The Tories are filling their election campaign with tough on crime announcements. And they are facing criticism from community groups, academics and the legal community who charge there is no evidence to support these proposed changes.

One of the Tories’ plans targets youth. Stephen Harper says that he would ensure that people as young as 14 who are convicted of manslaughter, murder or aggravated assault automatically face longer sentences. He also says that the Tories will no longer have young people’s identities protected by publication bans.

Judge Merlin Nunn, who led an inquiry into the youth justice system in Nova Scotia, says longer prison terms for anyone, including youth, will not make the public safer. Criminologist Ross Hastings, says that this is more of a politics of crime response rather than it is a reasoned, evidence-based response. In addition, some legal experts are saying that these sentences for youth are unconstitutional.

This will lead to thousands of more people going to jail and to an expensive expansion of the prison system.

Jonathan Rudin, a lawyer with Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto, says conditional sentencing and other options other than incarceration, including restorative justice, are more successful in the long run in helping people make change their lives, which ultimately makes Canada safer.

When questioned about the lack of evidence to show that his proposals will work to reduce crime Harper sloughs off his critics.

Harper has yet to provide evidence as to how these proposals will reduce crime.

In response to Harper, critics point to the U.S., arguing that if the tough on crime approach worked, then the U.S. would be the safest place in the world.

Those who work with affected communities and who have done the research, argue that all the resources spent policing, charging and locking people up could be better spent. They say that the money could be put in housing, addiction services and community initiatives to build stronger communities and hence prevent crime long before it happens.