Young offenders need a reprimand and rehabilitation, not a life behind bars
September 23, 2008 8:17 am Canadian PoliticsI support being tough on crime, I support strengthening our laws even against young offenders, but to plan life sentences for kids as young as 14 is disturbing and disgusting. Some one once told me in a golf course on the best way to hold the club. It is like holding a bird, tight enough to not let it fly, but not too much to kill it. I think Young offenders are the same. We need to tighten the laws, so that law enforcement has the powers to prosecute and prevent serious offenders, but we don’t need to act hysteric to kill the kid’s future.
At 14, a child’s brain is still developing and sometimes we can not blame the kid of the violent crimes they may be committing. It might be the environment that they are growing and it is our responsibility to transfer and provide them the care to live like normal citizens, not give them a life sentence.
No religion, including the ultra conservative Christianity supports harsh punishment for children, in fact it is exactly the opposite of what Harper is suggesting. No kid before committing a crime thinks about the number of years in Jail, for that matter no criminals does it. Strong legislation’s in other countries including US have not reduced youth crime rates and the approach is very radical with
Tough leigslations are needed for repeat offenders, but first time offenders need to be reprimanding and rehabilitation. Good societies are built with love and care , not jail and cane.
Steve, we need tough laws for youth crime, not vendetta laws with youth crime. They are our children and our future.
Tom Robinson :
Date: September 23, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Sorry buddy, but if a 14 year old kills someone he does NOT get life in prison.
It just means he is on parole for life. Bif Dif.
Next, if a 16 or 17 year old kills someone, life in prison without parole is the answer.
If you call killers “children and our future”, that is truly disgusting.
A kid who gets 3 years in jail for 1st degree murder is disgusting.
It’s amazing how the leftists care more about killers than victims.
Pretty shameful behaviour.
Tory@York :
Date: September 23, 2008 @ 10:08 am
I gotta disagree. At 14, you know pretty damn well that beating the crap out of someone and killing them is WRONG. We’re not talking about some 9 year old who stole a candy bar here, this is meant for serious, violent offenses that destroy peoples lives. How many times have we seen 14, 15, 16 years olds get a slap on the wrist for premeditated, incredibly violent and heartless murders? Its time we saw some real justice done here.
Vijay :
Date: September 23, 2008 @ 10:31 am
Leftists, who me ? Some conservatives think I am too right even for a conservative and you are calling me a leftist. That shows that you are more on propoganda than material debate.
we have Correction centres in Canada and Prisons in US. I am firm supporter of tough laws against crime, especially repeat offenders. I think children, especially first time offenders need a chance. Naming a young offender is only going to make it difficult for the child to rehabilitate and it does nothing for the victim, ofcourse more news for the media.
Tom Robinson :
Date: September 24, 2008 @ 9:50 am
Vijay, you have not answered my comment.
Do you not think that calling “killers” Canada’s “children and our future” a prety disgusting notion.
Child killers are always killers even when they turn 50.
What would happen to a 16 or 17 year old in India who killed someone in cold blood?
Let me know, without Liberal spin.
And you’re not a CON otherwise you would be on bloggingtories.ca and no the bloggingsocialists.ca.
Get my point.
Vijay :
Date: September 25, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
History will tell you that some of the greatest minds had made mistakes in thier lives, including Nobel Peace prize winner Mandela.
Kids are kids, I know a lot about mental health and brain development, which is why I support that first time offenders, especially children should be given a chance to rehabilitate.
Putting them in jail for 14 years does not reduce crime in the streets, so why the vengance ?
We live in Canada and lets talk about Canada. I really dont care about young offenders law in India, Ethiopia, uganda or Austria. I care about my country and the place I can make impact. Ofcourse we can talk about it under foregin policy, human rights context, not young offenders act.
The question was not if I am a conservatives or Liberal, but If I was leftist or not and the answer is still the same and I will never be a Conservative!
Prashanth :
Date: October 26, 2008 @ 11:03 am
@Tom Robinson -
The point u r making here is not good. Ya i agree, if someone killed your family member, u want him to be punished. Okay, but we also have to think of recidivism. which is re offending rate. Whats the point of the same person commits a crime again after coming out of prison? Also, we cant just lock them up forever in prison for one mistake in life. it will cost us A LOT of money and as well we are ruining a person’s life.
Vijay is compeltely right.
a 14 year old mind is still growing. u cant punish a 8 year old for beating someone. and put him in prison forexample.
we gotta work in a different way. A society which is loving and caring always wins. Like netherlands.
Also let me give u a example. yes harsh punishments do work when its done properly and effectively. but let me tell u in singapore where its jail and cane. it doesnt matter. there is more sucide rates and other mental problems for those criminals. that country doesnt give a crap about human rights and nothing about the person’s future. all they like is PUNISHING. In the end, it doesnt work. Helps solve the problem for time being but not forever.