Source Linky: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2006/10/17/2050704-cp.html
Okay, Canada is far more centered around Rights and Freedoms than a lot of other democracies, so this is a first step that's new for this country.
I'm curious if those Monkeys out there who have lived in communities where the 3-Strikes laws have been in effect for awhile have noticed any impact on crime?
My own opinion is that it's less of a deterrent and more of 'just keeping the bastards locked up longer' - which is fine by me. A girl I used to know was raped and murdered by a repeat violent felon.
OTTAWA (CP) - Three-time violent or sexual offenders could face indefinite jail terms under the latest tough-on-crime bill introduced by the Conservative government.
"We need this bill in order to ensure that Canadians are protected against dangerous offenders," Justice Minister Vic Toews said after tabling the legislation in the Commons on Tuesday.
He brushed aside objections from academics who say longer jail terms do little to deter crime, and also rejected contentions that the bill wouldn't survive a court challenge under the Charter of Rights.
"It absolutely will act as a deterrent," Toews insisted outside the House. "It is not unconstitutional, we have considered it very carefully."
NDP justice critic Joe Comartin was skeptical, calling the bill "a bit of an overkill" and saying he has serious doubts that it could stand up to constitutional scrutiny.
"This is political posturing," said Comartin, predicting the bill has little chance of passing the Commons before next spring, when another federal election is widely expected.
Under the legislation, anyone convicted of three serious violent or sexual offences would have to convince a judge why he or she shouldn't be classified as a dangerous offender - a category that carries an indeterminate prison term under the Criminal Code.
In effect, the bill reverses the normal burden of proof. It is currently up to the Crown to prove that anyone should be considered a danger to society.
The bill, promised last week by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has won applause from victims' rights campaigners and strong backing from the Canadian Professional Police Association, the lobby group for rank-and-file officers across the country.
But defence lawyers and civil libertarians say it goes too far and could well violate legal rights guaranteed under the Charter.
The Tories have introduced a range of crime-fighting bills in recent months, including measures to impose mandatory minimum sentences for gun-related offences and moves to curtail the use of house arrest as an alternative to jail time for many other crimes.
Most of the measures are bogged down in the legislative mill, however, and there are questions about whether the minority Tory government can mobilize enough support among other parties to make them law.
Okay, Canada is far more centered around Rights and Freedoms than a lot of other democracies, so this is a first step that's new for this country.
I'm curious if those Monkeys out there who have lived in communities where the 3-Strikes laws have been in effect for awhile have noticed any impact on crime?
My own opinion is that it's less of a deterrent and more of 'just keeping the bastards locked up longer' - which is fine by me. A girl I used to know was raped and murdered by a repeat violent felon.